Australia’s biggest mining states, ACT raise issues about energy plan

The Turnbull government’s hopes of securing an early ‘‘green light’’ to its landmark energy plan have received fresh setbacks, with Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT each declaring serious concerns about its design.

The federal government is seeking state and territory
support this Friday for its national energy guarantee.

The states object to the federal government’s proposed carbon emissions cuts and renewables targets, but energy minister Josh Frydenberg is confident his plan will progress past this Friday’s key meeting with state counterparts.

In their first responses to detailed papers on the National Energy Guarantee – a plan that aims to lower power prices, improve the grid’s reliability, and cut greenhouse emissions from the electricity sector – Queensland and Western Australia said key issues remain.

Read the story by Peter Hannam and Nicole Hasham from The Age - “Australia’s biggest mining states, ACT raise issues about energy plan.”

Turnbull’s national energy guarantee could have 'no meaningful emission reduction’

The Turnbull government’s national energy guarantee will deliver no meaningful emissions reductions in its own right unless the proposed 2030 target for Australia’s electricity sector is made more ambitious, according to new research.

Malcolm Turnbull’s government is under pressure to
adopt a more ambitious national energy guarantee. 

Data on renewables compiled by Green Energy Markets and funded by the progressive activist group GetUp indicates the capacity of renewable projects now under construction already exceeds what is required to achieve the 2030 Neg target of a 26% cut on 2005 levels by 2030.

The report draws on economic modelling undertaken for the Energy Security Board to note that an additional 9,271 megawatts of wind and solar will be required in the national electricity market to deliver the Neg emissions reduction target.

Read Katherine Murphy’s story from The Guardian - “Turnbull’s national energy guarantee could have 'no meaningful emission reduction’,”