‘Not a big drama' for electricity industry to slash emissions, says scheme architect

The head of the expert board advising the federal Coalition on its signature energy plan says it would not be a "big drama" for the electricity industry if a future Labor government enforced far stronger cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr Kerry Schott is advising the federal government on the energy plan.

Labor states say they will withhold final support for the Turnbull government proposal to merge climate and energy policy - known as the national energy guarantee - until they are assured a successive government will not be blocked from ratcheting up carbon savings.

Read the story by Nicole Hasham and Peter Carey from today’s Age - “‘Not a big drama' for electricity industry to slash emissions, says scheme architect.”

Josh Frydenberg to come under pressure over renewable energy at ministers' meeting

The Turnbull government has come under pressure at Friday's energy ministers' meeting to modify its energy plan to give greater support for renewable energy and extend its effects beyond 2030.

Minister for Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg
 and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as they unveiled
the National Energy Guarantee in October.

Shane Rattenbury, the ACT energy minister, sought support from other states to have a vote on key policy principles for the National Energy Guarantee during the COAG gathering in Hobart.

Fairfax Media understands two amendments put forward by Mr Rattenbury and his South Australian counterpart, Tom Koutsantonis, fell one vote short of a majority needed.

The mood inside the meeting was described as "fraught".

Read Peter Hannam’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Josh Frydenberg to come under pressure over renewable energy at ministers' meeting.”

Turnbull to rely on state schemes he once rubbished as reckless

State government anger over the federal government’s new energy plan is reaching boiling point, both because of the Coalition’s co-opting of what is supposed to be an independent board, and its decision to essentially rely on state-based renewable targets that it once derided as reckless.

Turnbull government relies on schemes it once called "reckless".

The seething anger from the states is completely overshadowing the proposal for the National Energy Guarantee, not least because it cannot be implemented without their approval.

But they have been astonished by the federal government’s decision to go behind their backs, obtain a policy proposal from the newly constituted Energy Security Board – which is supposed to report to the states through the COAG energy council – and then use the ESB directors to sell the idea to media, politicians and business.

Read the RenewEconomy story by Giles Parkinson - “Turnbull to rely on state schemes he once rubbished as reckless.”

State Labor premiers savage Malcolm Turnbull's energy policy, setting up a COAG brawl

The Turnbull government faces an uphill battle getting states to sign up to its new energy plan, as Labor premiers savage it as a capitulation to Tony Abbott and victory for the coal industry.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with premiers and chief ministers in Canberra.

The government will need all the national electricity market states – NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT – to agree to its national energy guarantee to implement it.

The plan to force energy companies to meet mandated standards of reliability and emissions reduction will require changes to national electricity law, which is state-based legislation that sets the rules for the market.

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg briefed his state counterparts on the policy over the phone on Tuesday ahead of a face-to-face COAG meeting planned for late November. But initial reactions were not positive. 

Read the story by Noel Towell and Adam Gartrell in today’s Melbourne Age - “State Labor premiers savage Malcolm Turnbull's energy policy, setting up a COAG brawl.”