❓ A member of parliament questions the Energy Minister about Western Power's compliance with renewable energy targets and associated penalties, prompting a detailed response defending the government's actions and highlighting renewable energy initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 698Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the Government’s widely criticised greenhouse strategy, announced in September this year, which the Premier described as a comprehensive and strategic policy that will rein in greenhouse gas emissions. (1) Will the minister confirm that under his Government’s policies, Western Power will fail to meet its mandated renewable energy target in 2003, and will fail to meet this target every year between now and 2010? (2) Will the minister confirm that Western Australian taxpayers were penalised to the tune of $4 million for the failure to meet this target, a penalty that will rise to a whopping $42 million in 2010 unless drastic action is taken to boost renewable energy sources? (3) Will the minister admit that, rather than rein in greenhouse gas emissions, Labor is actually contributing to the problem? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) That question probably was not drafted by Epic Energy, but it may well have been drafted by someone else. Western Power has an obligation under federal legislation to source two per cent of its energy - or an amount that was to be two per cent but which is in fact less - from renewable sources. That sourcing is performed by Western Power buying so-called renewable energy certificates to cover its obligation under that legislation. As far as I am aware, Western Power has met its commitments to buy sufficient renewable energy certificates under the relevant legislation. If the Leader of the National Party thinks that Western Power has not purchased sufficient renewable energy certificates and is therefore in breach of federal law, I would certainly be interested in seeing his evidence, if he has any. So far as I am aware, Western Power has honoured its obligation to purchase renewable energy certificates under federal law. I know that it has been making big efforts in that regard because a renewable energy certificate procurement process means that a wind farm will be established at Cervantes and a biomass project will be established south of Perth. Western Power is now in the process of going through a second procurement process for renewable energy certificates, with results expected late this year or early next year, and there will be scope for Western Power to go into a third renewable energy certificate procurement program. In addition, Western Power is not the entire electricity supply industry; something that the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party - the deputy leader of the coalition but not the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - seem to have trouble coming to grips with. There are other players in the electricity supply industry. For example, Alinta has reached financial close on a 90-megawatt wind farm at Walkaway. It has been encouraged to make that decision because of our reforms to the electricity market rules, in particular the so-called top-up and spill arrangements. Had we not made those reforms to the top-up and spill arrangements, Alinta would not have committed to that 90-megawatt wind farm south of Cervantes. We have a comprehensive program to promote renewable energy and we certainly abide by our obligations under federal legislation. We have had the RECs 1 procurement, we are in the middle of the RECs 2 procurement and we have significantly altered the rules governing the electricity market, which has encouraged independent wind farm operators to establish their own operations.
(1) Will the minister confirm that under his Government’s policies, Western Power will fail to meet its mandated renewable energy target in 2003, and will fail to meet this target every year between now and 2010? (2) Will the minister confirm that Western Australian taxpayers were penalised to the tune of $4 million for the failure to meet this target, a penalty that will rise to a whopping $42 million in 2010 unless drastic action is taken to boost renewable energy sources? (3) Will the minister admit that, rather than rein in greenhouse gas emissions, Labor is actually contributing to the problem? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) That question probably was not drafted by Epic Energy, but it may well have been drafted by someone else. Western Power has an obligation under federal legislation to source two per cent of its energy - or an amount that was to be two per cent but which is in fact less - from renewable sources. That sourcing is performed by Western Power buying so-called renewable energy certificates to cover its obligation under that legislation. As far as I am aware, Western Power has met its commitments to buy sufficient renewable energy certificates under the relevant legislation. If the Leader of the National Party thinks that Western Power has not purchased sufficient renewable energy certificates and is therefore in breach of federal law, I would certainly be interested in seeing his evidence, if he has any. So far as I am aware, Western Power has honoured its obligation to purchase renewable energy certificates under federal law. I know that it has been making big efforts in that regard because a renewable energy certificate procurement process means that a wind farm will be established at Cervantes and a biomass project will be established south of Perth. Western Power is now in the process of going through a second procurement process for renewable energy certificates, with results expected late this year or early next year, and there will be scope for Western Power to go into a third renewable energy certificate procurement program. In addition, Western Power is not the entire electricity supply industry; something that the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party - the deputy leader of the coalition but not the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - seem to have trouble coming to grips with. There are other players in the electricity supply industry. For example, Alinta has reached financial close on a 90-megawatt wind farm at Walkaway. It has been encouraged to make that decision because of our reforms to the electricity market rules, in particular the so-called top-up and spill arrangements. Had we not made those reforms to the top-up and spill arrangements, Alinta would not have committed to that 90-megawatt wind farm south of Cervantes. We have a comprehensive program to promote renewable energy and we certainly abide by our obligations under federal legislation. We have had the RECs 1 procurement, we are in the middle of the RECs 2 procurement and we have significantly altered the rules governing the electricity market, which has encouraged independent wind farm operators to establish their own operations.
(2) Will the minister confirm that Western Australian taxpayers were penalised to the tune of $4 million for the failure to meet this target, a penalty that will rise to a whopping $42 million in 2010 unless drastic action is taken to boost renewable energy sources? (3) Will the minister admit that, rather than rein in greenhouse gas emissions, Labor is actually contributing to the problem? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) That question probably was not drafted by Epic Energy, but it may well have been drafted by someone else. Western Power has an obligation under federal legislation to source two per cent of its energy - or an amount that was to be two per cent but which is in fact less - from renewable sources. That sourcing is performed by Western Power buying so-called renewable energy certificates to cover its obligation under that legislation. As far as I am aware, Western Power has met its commitments to buy sufficient renewable energy certificates under the relevant legislation. If the Leader of the National Party thinks that Western Power has not purchased sufficient renewable energy certificates and is therefore in breach of federal law, I would certainly be interested in seeing his evidence, if he has any. So far as I am aware, Western Power has honoured its obligation to purchase renewable energy certificates under federal law. I know that it has been making big efforts in that regard because a renewable energy certificate procurement process means that a wind farm will be established at Cervantes and a biomass project will be established south of Perth. Western Power is now in the process of going through a second procurement process for renewable energy certificates, with results expected late this year or early next year, and there will be scope for Western Power to go into a third renewable energy certificate procurement program. In addition, Western Power is not the entire electricity supply industry; something that the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party - the deputy leader of the coalition but not the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - seem to have trouble coming to grips with. There are other players in the electricity supply industry. For example, Alinta has reached financial close on a 90-megawatt wind farm at Walkaway. It has been encouraged to make that decision because of our reforms to the electricity market rules, in particular the so-called top-up and spill arrangements. Had we not made those reforms to the top-up and spill arrangements, Alinta would not have committed to that 90-megawatt wind farm south of Cervantes. We have a comprehensive program to promote renewable energy and we certainly abide by our obligations under federal legislation. We have had the RECs 1 procurement, we are in the middle of the RECs 2 procurement and we have significantly altered the rules governing the electricity market, which has encouraged independent wind farm operators to establish their own operations.
(3) Will the minister admit that, rather than rein in greenhouse gas emissions, Labor is actually contributing to the problem? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) That question probably was not drafted by Epic Energy, but it may well have been drafted by someone else. Western Power has an obligation under federal legislation to source two per cent of its energy - or an amount that was to be two per cent but which is in fact less - from renewable sources. That sourcing is performed by Western Power buying so-called renewable energy certificates to cover its obligation under that legislation. As far as I am aware, Western Power has met its commitments to buy sufficient renewable energy certificates under the relevant legislation. If the Leader of the National Party thinks that Western Power has not purchased sufficient renewable energy certificates and is therefore in breach of federal law, I would certainly be interested in seeing his evidence, if he has any. So far as I am aware, Western Power has honoured its obligation to purchase renewable energy certificates under federal law. I know that it has been making big efforts in that regard because a renewable energy certificate procurement process means that a wind farm will be established at Cervantes and a biomass project will be established south of Perth. Western Power is now in the process of going through a second procurement process for renewable energy certificates, with results expected late this year or early next year, and there will be scope for Western Power to go into a third renewable energy certificate procurement program. In addition, Western Power is not the entire electricity supply industry; something that the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party - the deputy leader of the coalition but not the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - seem to have trouble coming to grips with. There are other players in the electricity supply industry. For example, Alinta has reached financial close on a 90-megawatt wind farm at Walkaway. It has been encouraged to make that decision because of our reforms to the electricity market rules, in particular the so-called top-up and spill arrangements. Had we not made those reforms to the top-up and spill arrangements, Alinta would not have committed to that 90-megawatt wind farm south of Cervantes. We have a comprehensive program to promote renewable energy and we certainly abide by our obligations under federal legislation. We have had the RECs 1 procurement, we are in the middle of the RECs 2 procurement and we have significantly altered the rules governing the electricity market, which has encouraged independent wind farm operators to establish their own operations.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) That question probably was not drafted by Epic Energy, but it may well have been drafted by someone else. Western Power has an obligation under federal legislation to source two per cent of its energy - or an amount that was to be two per cent but which is in fact less - from renewable sources. That sourcing is performed by Western Power buying so-called renewable energy certificates to cover its obligation under that legislation. As far as I am aware, Western Power has met its commitments to buy sufficient renewable energy certificates under the relevant legislation. If the Leader of the National Party thinks that Western Power has not purchased sufficient renewable energy certificates and is therefore in breach of federal law, I would certainly be interested in seeing his evidence, if he has any. So far as I am aware, Western Power has honoured its obligation to purchase renewable energy certificates under federal law. I know that it has been making big efforts in that regard because a renewable energy certificate procurement process means that a wind farm will be established at Cervantes and a biomass project will be established south of Perth. Western Power is now in the process of going through a second procurement process for renewable energy certificates, with results expected late this year or early next year, and there will be scope for Western Power to go into a third renewable energy certificate procurement program. In addition, Western Power is not the entire electricity supply industry; something that the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party - the deputy leader of the coalition but not the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - seem to have trouble coming to grips with. There are other players in the electricity supply industry. For example, Alinta has reached financial close on a 90-megawatt wind farm at Walkaway. It has been encouraged to make that decision because of our reforms to the electricity market rules, in particular the so-called top-up and spill arrangements. Had we not made those reforms to the top-up and spill arrangements, Alinta would not have committed to that 90-megawatt wind farm south of Cervantes. We have a comprehensive program to promote renewable energy and we certainly abide by our obligations under federal legislation. We have had the RECs 1 procurement, we are in the middle of the RECs 2 procurement and we have significantly altered the rules governing the electricity market, which has encouraged independent wind farm operators to establish their own operations.
(1)-(3) That question probably was not drafted by Epic Energy, but it may well have been drafted by someone else. Western Power has an obligation under federal legislation to source two per cent of its energy - or an amount that was to be two per cent but which is in fact less - from renewable sources. That sourcing is performed by Western Power buying so-called renewable energy certificates to cover its obligation under that legislation. As far as I am aware, Western Power has met its commitments to buy sufficient renewable energy certificates under the relevant legislation. If the Leader of the National Party thinks that Western Power has not purchased sufficient renewable energy certificates and is therefore in breach of federal law, I would certainly be interested in seeing his evidence, if he has any. So far as I am aware, Western Power has honoured its obligation to purchase renewable energy certificates under federal law. I know that it has been making big efforts in that regard because a renewable energy certificate procurement process means that a wind farm will be established at Cervantes and a biomass project will be established south of Perth. Western Power is now in the process of going through a second procurement process for renewable energy certificates, with results expected late this year or early next year, and there will be scope for Western Power to go into a third renewable energy certificate procurement program. In addition, Western Power is not the entire electricity supply industry; something that the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party - the deputy leader of the coalition but not the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - seem to have trouble coming to grips with. There are other players in the electricity supply industry. For example, Alinta has reached financial close on a 90-megawatt wind farm at Walkaway. It has been encouraged to make that decision because of our reforms to the electricity market rules, in particular the so-called top-up and spill arrangements. Had we not made those reforms to the top-up and spill arrangements, Alinta would not have committed to that 90-megawatt wind farm south of Cervantes. We have a comprehensive program to promote renewable energy and we certainly abide by our obligations under federal legislation. We have had the RECs 1 procurement, we are in the middle of the RECs 2 procurement and we have significantly altered the rules governing the electricity market, which has encouraged independent wind farm operators to establish their own operations.
(1) Will the minister confirm that under his Government’s policies, Western Power will fail to meet its mandated renewable energy target in 2003, and will fail to meet this target every year between now and 2010? (2) Will the minister confirm that Western Australian taxpayers were penalised to the tune of $4 million for the failure to meet this target, a penalty that will rise to a whopping $42 million in 2010 unless drastic action is taken to boost renewable energy sources? (3) Will the minister admit that, rather than rein in greenhouse gas emissions, Labor is actually contributing to the problem? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) That question probably was not drafted by Epic Energy, but it may well have been drafted by someone else. Western Power has an obligation under federal legislation to source two per cent of its energy - or an amount that was to be two per cent but which is in fact less - from renewable sources. That sourcing is performed by Western Power buying so-called renewable energy certificates to cover its obligation under that legislation. As far as I am aware, Western Power has met its commitments to buy sufficient renewable energy certificates under the relevant legislation. If the Leader of the National Party thinks that Western Power has not purchased sufficient renewable energy certificates and is therefore in breach of federal law, I would certainly be interested in seeing his evidence, if he has any. So far as I am aware, Western Power has honoured its obligation to purchase renewable energy certificates under federal law. I know that it has been making big efforts in that regard because a renewable energy certificate procurement process means that a wind farm will be established at Cervantes and a biomass project will be established south of Perth. Western Power is now in the process of going through a second procurement process for renewable energy certificates, with results expected late this year or early next year, and there will be scope for Western Power to go into a third renewable energy certificate procurement program. In addition, Western Power is not the entire electricity supply industry; something that the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party - the deputy leader of the coalition but not the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - seem to have trouble coming to grips with. There are other players in the electricity supply industry. For example, Alinta has reached financial close on a 90-megawatt wind farm at Walkaway. It has been encouraged to make that decision because of our reforms to the electricity market rules, in particular the so-called top-up and spill arrangements. Had we not made those reforms to the top-up and spill arrangements, Alinta would not have committed to that 90-megawatt wind farm south of Cervantes. We have a comprehensive program to promote renewable energy and we certainly abide by our obligations under federal legislation. We have had the RECs 1 procurement, we are in the middle of the RECs 2 procurement and we have significantly altered the rules governing the electricity market, which has encouraged independent wind farm operators to establish their own operations.
(2) Will the minister confirm that Western Australian taxpayers were penalised to the tune of $4 million for the failure to meet this target, a penalty that will rise to a whopping $42 million in 2010 unless drastic action is taken to boost renewable energy sources? (3) Will the minister admit that, rather than rein in greenhouse gas emissions, Labor is actually contributing to the problem? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) That question probably was not drafted by Epic Energy, but it may well have been drafted by someone else. Western Power has an obligation under federal legislation to source two per cent of its energy - or an amount that was to be two per cent but which is in fact less - from renewable sources. That sourcing is performed by Western Power buying so-called renewable energy certificates to cover its obligation under that legislation. As far as I am aware, Western Power has met its commitments to buy sufficient renewable energy certificates under the relevant legislation. If the Leader of the National Party thinks that Western Power has not purchased sufficient renewable energy certificates and is therefore in breach of federal law, I would certainly be interested in seeing his evidence, if he has any. So far as I am aware, Western Power has honoured its obligation to purchase renewable energy certificates under federal law. I know that it has been making big efforts in that regard because a renewable energy certificate procurement process means that a wind farm will be established at Cervantes and a biomass project will be established south of Perth. Western Power is now in the process of going through a second procurement process for renewable energy certificates, with results expected late this year or early next year, and there will be scope for Western Power to go into a third renewable energy certificate procurement program. In addition, Western Power is not the entire electricity supply industry; something that the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party - the deputy leader of the coalition but not the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - seem to have trouble coming to grips with. There are other players in the electricity supply industry. For example, Alinta has reached financial close on a 90-megawatt wind farm at Walkaway. It has been encouraged to make that decision because of our reforms to the electricity market rules, in particular the so-called top-up and spill arrangements. Had we not made those reforms to the top-up and spill arrangements, Alinta would not have committed to that 90-megawatt wind farm south of Cervantes. We have a comprehensive program to promote renewable energy and we certainly abide by our obligations under federal legislation. We have had the RECs 1 procurement, we are in the middle of the RECs 2 procurement and we have significantly altered the rules governing the electricity market, which has encouraged independent wind farm operators to establish their own operations.
(3) Will the minister admit that, rather than rein in greenhouse gas emissions, Labor is actually contributing to the problem? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) That question probably was not drafted by Epic Energy, but it may well have been drafted by someone else. Western Power has an obligation under federal legislation to source two per cent of its energy - or an amount that was to be two per cent but which is in fact less - from renewable sources. That sourcing is performed by Western Power buying so-called renewable energy certificates to cover its obligation under that legislation. As far as I am aware, Western Power has met its commitments to buy sufficient renewable energy certificates under the relevant legislation. If the Leader of the National Party thinks that Western Power has not purchased sufficient renewable energy certificates and is therefore in breach of federal law, I would certainly be interested in seeing his evidence, if he has any. So far as I am aware, Western Power has honoured its obligation to purchase renewable energy certificates under federal law. I know that it has been making big efforts in that regard because a renewable energy certificate procurement process means that a wind farm will be established at Cervantes and a biomass project will be established south of Perth. Western Power is now in the process of going through a second procurement process for renewable energy certificates, with results expected late this year or early next year, and there will be scope for Western Power to go into a third renewable energy certificate procurement program. In addition, Western Power is not the entire electricity supply industry; something that the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party - the deputy leader of the coalition but not the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - seem to have trouble coming to grips with. There are other players in the electricity supply industry. For example, Alinta has reached financial close on a 90-megawatt wind farm at Walkaway. It has been encouraged to make that decision because of our reforms to the electricity market rules, in particular the so-called top-up and spill arrangements. Had we not made those reforms to the top-up and spill arrangements, Alinta would not have committed to that 90-megawatt wind farm south of Cervantes. We have a comprehensive program to promote renewable energy and we certainly abide by our obligations under federal legislation. We have had the RECs 1 procurement, we are in the middle of the RECs 2 procurement and we have significantly altered the rules governing the electricity market, which has encouraged independent wind farm operators to establish their own operations.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) That question probably was not drafted by Epic Energy, but it may well have been drafted by someone else. Western Power has an obligation under federal legislation to source two per cent of its energy - or an amount that was to be two per cent but which is in fact less - from renewable sources. That sourcing is performed by Western Power buying so-called renewable energy certificates to cover its obligation under that legislation. As far as I am aware, Western Power has met its commitments to buy sufficient renewable energy certificates under the relevant legislation. If the Leader of the National Party thinks that Western Power has not purchased sufficient renewable energy certificates and is therefore in breach of federal law, I would certainly be interested in seeing his evidence, if he has any. So far as I am aware, Western Power has honoured its obligation to purchase renewable energy certificates under federal law. I know that it has been making big efforts in that regard because a renewable energy certificate procurement process means that a wind farm will be established at Cervantes and a biomass project will be established south of Perth. Western Power is now in the process of going through a second procurement process for renewable energy certificates, with results expected late this year or early next year, and there will be scope for Western Power to go into a third renewable energy certificate procurement program. In addition, Western Power is not the entire electricity supply industry; something that the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party - the deputy leader of the coalition but not the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - seem to have trouble coming to grips with. There are other players in the electricity supply industry. For example, Alinta has reached financial close on a 90-megawatt wind farm at Walkaway. It has been encouraged to make that decision because of our reforms to the electricity market rules, in particular the so-called top-up and spill arrangements. Had we not made those reforms to the top-up and spill arrangements, Alinta would not have committed to that 90-megawatt wind farm south of Cervantes. We have a comprehensive program to promote renewable energy and we certainly abide by our obligations under federal legislation. We have had the RECs 1 procurement, we are in the middle of the RECs 2 procurement and we have significantly altered the rules governing the electricity market, which has encouraged independent wind farm operators to establish their own operations.
(1)-(3) That question probably was not drafted by Epic Energy, but it may well have been drafted by someone else. Western Power has an obligation under federal legislation to source two per cent of its energy - or an amount that was to be two per cent but which is in fact less - from renewable sources. That sourcing is performed by Western Power buying so-called renewable energy certificates to cover its obligation under that legislation. As far as I am aware, Western Power has met its commitments to buy sufficient renewable energy certificates under the relevant legislation. If the Leader of the National Party thinks that Western Power has not purchased sufficient renewable energy certificates and is therefore in breach of federal law, I would certainly be interested in seeing his evidence, if he has any. So far as I am aware, Western Power has honoured its obligation to purchase renewable energy certificates under federal law. I know that it has been making big efforts in that regard because a renewable energy certificate procurement process means that a wind farm will be established at Cervantes and a biomass project will be established south of Perth. Western Power is now in the process of going through a second procurement process for renewable energy certificates, with results expected late this year or early next year, and there will be scope for Western Power to go into a third renewable energy certificate procurement program. In addition, Western Power is not the entire electricity supply industry; something that the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party - the deputy leader of the coalition but not the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - seem to have trouble coming to grips with. There are other players in the electricity supply industry. For example, Alinta has reached financial close on a 90-megawatt wind farm at Walkaway. It has been encouraged to make that decision because of our reforms to the electricity market rules, in particular the so-called top-up and spill arrangements. Had we not made those reforms to the top-up and spill arrangements, Alinta would not have committed to that 90-megawatt wind farm south of Cervantes. We have a comprehensive program to promote renewable energy and we certainly abide by our obligations under federal legislation. We have had the RECs 1 procurement, we are in the middle of the RECs 2 procurement and we have significantly altered the rules governing the electricity market, which has encouraged independent wind farm operators to establish their own operations.
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