NSW energy efficiency scheme plans are a waste of time

Commenting on a story in today's Sydney Morning Herald ('New energy scheme a waste of time: MP,” 16 June, page 5), Dr Kaye said: "The scheme is a classic case of green-washing.

"It will no doubt create an impressive set of numbers for Premier Nathan Rees to bandy about at the next election.

"However the legislation will barely make a dent in the 57 million tonnes of CO2 emitted each year from the state's  electricity industry.

"It will leave NSW households facing skyrocketing electricity bills.

"If NSW Energy Minister Ian Macdonald had been serious he would not have left so many loopholes.

"The scheme is an open invitation to dodgy operators to exploit the rules. They will be able to print money without improving energy efficiency.

"Exempting the big polluters shifts the burden to households and small businesses.

"The Rees government has yet again fallen for market ideology over practical solutions.

"Regulation to improve minimum standards for appliance and building efficiency would have been cheaper, more effective and faster acting.

"Instead the state is to be burdened with a scheme that repeats the failures of the NSW government's infamous Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme.

"The Rees government is pretending to act on energy efficiency.

"This is just spin when what is urgently needed is real policy," Dr Kaye said.