Solar Credits May be Activated this week

Clean Energy Council welcomes move to enable swift passage of the RET

NATIONAL:  Australia's clean energy industry welcomes the Rudd Government's plan to enable the swift passage of its renewable energy targets (RET) bill.

Clean Energy Council chief executive Matthew Warren called on all political parties to support the proposal which effectively decouples the RET bill from the CPRS, and so allowing it to pass this week in Parliament.

"We welcome this important step towards delivering the RET bill by the end of the week," Mr Warren said. "We need the RET passed in three days, not three months."

Mr Warren said an expanded renewable energy target had the overwhelming support of the Australian public, and together with energy efficiency measures, would unleash $28 billion worth of new investment and 28,000 new clean jobs over the next decade.

"Today's announcement means that the RET can and should now be passed by Parliament this week. The only thing that can stand in its way is political point scoring and gamesmanship."

The CEC will continue to push for amendments to ensure the government's promised target of 45,000 GWh of clean energy by 2020 is reached, by ensuring all "phantom" renewable energy certificates created by the proposed solar credits scheme to assist household installation of PV panels, are reintroduced into the target.