Solar plan is road block to climate solutions

Commenting on the decision to opt for a 'net' feed-in tariff that does
not reward renewable energy that is used by households, Dr Kaye said:
“Environment Minister Carmel Tebbutt has been run over by her
colleagues.
 
"Finance Minister Joe Tripodi and his ally Energy Minister Ian
Macdonald won the day for an ineffective scheme that will become an
excuse for no further action to stimulate household renewable energy
generation.
 
"The 'brown' faction in cabinet has robbed potential investors of the
certainty of payment streams that is needed to secure financing for
solar panels.
 
"Only the ACT has got it right with a 'gross' tariff that pays the
bonus on all the energy generated.
 
"NSW has lost the opportunity to build on this state's world leadership
in solar research.
 
"Ian Macdonald's net tariff will have almost no impact on jobs growth,
cutting greenhouse gas emissions or building an export industry.
 
"Ministers Tebbutt and Macdonald claim this is the most generous scheme
of all the states.
 
"This is simply spin to disguise the damage they have done by opting
for an ineffective net tariff that will discriminate against
stay-at-home mums, older people and the self-employed who work from
their homes.
 
"By taking away the income certainty, a net tariff locks in a low level
of uptake.
 
"This might suit those in cabinet who are hostile to renewable energy.
It might help the coal industry by damaging a competitor. However it is
bad news for NSW.
 
"The Greens will be seeking to amend the legislation to create an
effective, gross feed-in tariff," Dr Kaye said.