❓ Mr. Johnston questions the Minister for Energy about the WA government's position on the federal renewable energy target (RET). The Minister states the federal government hasn't sought their view and WA doesn't need more large-scale capacity.
AnsweredQoN 347Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET
347. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for
Energy:
I refer to reports that seven
national business organisations have urged the federal Liberal government to
accept Labor's 33 000-gigawatt target for large-scale renewable energy.
(1) Has the
federal Minister for Industry and Science, who is responsible for the renewable
energy target, sought the minister's opinion on the target?
(2) Has the
minister told the federal government's views on what the target should
be?
(3) What target
for the RET is supported by the minister and the WA government?
347. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for
Energy:
I refer to reports that seven
national business organisations have urged the federal Liberal government to
accept Labor's 33 000-gigawatt target for large-scale renewable energy.
(1) Has the
federal Minister for Industry and Science, who is responsible for the renewable
energy target, sought the minister's opinion on the target?
(2) Has the
minister told the federal government's views on what the target should
be?
(3) What target
for the RET is supported by the minister and the WA government?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) No, the federal minister has not sought my view. I
am sure when that inquiry was done into the RET some time ago some departments
might have provided input to it. No, I think some negotiation is going on
between various parties at commonwealth level; it is a commonwealth policy as
to what the RET scheme is, and I will leave it to them. All I can say is that
although we are supporting renewable energy greatly in the state—it is
the fastest growing source—it is largely small-scale renewable energy
that now exceeds 400 megawatts of installed capacity in the metro area, which
is very good. I expect that within this decade, it will be pushing 1 000
megawatts and packaged together it will be the largest generating facility in
the state—a significant change. When solar batteries come in, I expect
it will transform the electricity industry in this state generally—not
only the generation, but the distribution of it—so significant changes
are underway. We look forward to a result from the negotiations at the
commonwealth level. However, I can say that on a large scale, we simply do not
need any more capacity. The small scale is doing fine and well; we do not need
any more capacity in this state whatever the source of energy, whether it be wind,
solar—in terms of large scale—or otherwise. Going forward, we
have enough existing capacity and I think all additional capacity will be met
by small-scale solar.
am sure when that inquiry was done into the RET some time ago some departments
might have provided input to it. No, I think some negotiation is going on
between various parties at commonwealth level; it is a commonwealth policy as
to what the RET scheme is, and I will leave it to them. All I can say is that
although we are supporting renewable energy greatly in the state—it is
the fastest growing source—it is largely small-scale renewable energy
that now exceeds 400 megawatts of installed capacity in the metro area, which
is very good. I expect that within this decade, it will be pushing 1 000
megawatts and packaged together it will be the largest generating facility in
the state—a significant change. When solar batteries come in, I expect
it will transform the electricity industry in this state generally—not
only the generation, but the distribution of it—so significant changes
are underway. We look forward to a result from the negotiations at the
commonwealth level. However, I can say that on a large scale, we simply do not
need any more capacity. The small scale is doing fine and well; we do not need
any more capacity in this state whatever the source of energy, whether it be wind,
solar—in terms of large scale—or otherwise. Going forward, we
have enough existing capacity and I think all additional capacity will be met
by small-scale solar.
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