Well – the review is said and done, and the outcome – guess what, if you live in New South Wales, and don’t have your order in by midnight, then you will have to PAY for your solar.
That’s right – as of midnight tonight, the feed-in tariff will be reduced from 60¢ to 20¢ per kWh. What the?
Kristina Keneally has Killed the NSW solar industry in one fell swoop as effectively as Peter Garrett killed the insulation industry. Rather than taking a broad positive step, they have knee jerked again as they are wont to do, and rather than a gradual reduction and pull back, which was expected, and is entirely appropriate, we have seen a complete devastation of the NSW solar industry.
One needs to wonder, really, what were they thinking. How can we ensure that the PV program is wiped out completely, how can we ensure that every solar company set up moves out of NSW? How can we ensure that the PV installers who have been working feverishly for so long to provide a renewable energy base for the future are left high and dry with nothing more than 3-6 months work installing panels for companies who may just pull out? Hey – lets introduce a feed-in tariff regime where we have users PAY for their own solar energy! Way to go Kristina.
Unlike the ACT government who has recently announced expansion in their solar program to promote up to 240MW of renewable generation in just the ACT, the NSW move today is completely retrograde, and limiting what is left of the program to 300MW is just a further nail in the coffin.
There is one light at the end of the tunnel though – NSW has an election early next year, and the Greens have already expressed shock at the severity of the cutbacks, and with any luck the Liberal opposition will opt to review the feed-in tariff if elected.
The only other thing that there is left to be thankful for is that this time it is only NSW that is affected, not QLD, not Victoria, SA or WA, and not those already who have purchased.
If the order is in by midnight tonight (27/10) then it will still be eligible for the 60 cent tariff.
Kristina – if you read this, this is not the way to invest in the environment, and not the way to invest in our kids future. Electricity prices are going up – we know that already, it MUST if we are committed to renewable energy sources. I just hope that you are happy with your legacy.
A.
Enviromate Australia 