Brawl erupts as Dan reveals Victoria Renewable Energy Target laws

A FRESH brawl over power costs and the state’s energy supply has erupted after the Andrews Government presented its new Renewable Energy Target laws to state parliament.

A fresh brawl over power costs and the state’s energy supply has erupted after the Andrews Government presented its new Renewable Energy Target laws to state parliament.

• Matthew Johnston: Dan’s renewable power sums just don’t add up

A FRESH brawl over power costs and the state’s energy supply has erupted after the Andrews Government presented its new Renewable Energy Target laws to state parliament.

The laws will see Victoria “go it alone” and pursue a statewide target for 40 per cent of energy to come from renewable sources by 2025.

Premier Daniel Andrews claimed his plan would see “cheaper power bills” — which some experts have questioned amid calls for a consistent national approach to tackle the issue.

Grattan Institute energy program director Tony Wood said the policy was a “nasty dog’s breakfast”, with dodgy modelling of energy bills based only on wholesale prices.

“No one is debating the future need for more renewable energy in the system, but a national approach would consider the most efficient place to source that from,” he said. “It appears to me that the lesson from South Australia has been ignored by this policy.”

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Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg told the Herald Sun a national problem required a “national solution” and said he feared Victoria was on the “South Australian Labor path for higher prices and a less stable system”.

Mr Andrews said the plan could create new jobs, and that a competitive auction system to supply enough renewable energy to 389,000 homes would bring $1.3 billion in investment and 1250 construction jobs.

Industry figures warned that this would see “significant costs” passed on to customers or borne by taxpayers, but environment groups said it would “turbocharge” the growing sector.

Federal figures show the VRET could lead to an explosion in wind turbines from about 600 to more than 2300.

Macca’s view.

Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, who earlier this year said there would be a cost to households, refused to release modelling.

“We know for a fact that more supply, in a pure economics 101 sense, means cheaper prices,” she said.

Experts said this ignored closures of large-scale generation assets, pointing to price spikes when Hazelwood shut down this year, and transmission and distribution costs.

Australian Energy Council chief executive Matthew Warren said the government should release its analysis.

Victorian Council of Social Service chief executive Emma King said a renewable energy target was “important and welcome” but “we shouldn’t pretend the VRET will magically drive down prices”.

Ms King said whatever the costs of the project, it shouldn’t be borne by poor communities. “We shouldn’t be building a greener Victoria on the backs on people doing it tough,” she said.

Clean Energy Council chief executive Kane Thornton said commitments made by the state government would “turbocharge the renewable energy industry in Victoria”.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the Coalition would oppose the plan.

“Daniel Andrews’ renewable energy target is political vanity at the expense of consumers. The reality is that power bills will rise,” he said.

Greens spokeswoman Ellen Sandell called for the government to go further and close all coal-fired power stations in Victoria.

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