Australian senate approves renewable energy target bill
21 Aug 2009
The Australian senate has approved the federal government's renewable energy target legislation.
The government split the legislation from its emissions trading scheme and negotiated additional compensation for industry with the coalition to secure support for the bill.
Under the new target, renewable energy sources will contribute 20 per cent of the electricity generated in Australia by the year 2020.
The legislation has come as a setback to both the Nationals and the Greens. The Nationals bid to get compensation for food-processing industries failed and so did the Greens' effort to have the target raised to 30 per cent.
Greens senator Bob Brown said the legislation could have done more for regional and rural Australia and it should not have been a further big handout to the big polluters which it will be.
Meanwhile Origin Energy Ltd, Australia's second-largest energy retailer, has welcomed the passing of the renewable energy target (RET) scheme legislation by the federal parliament.
According to Carl McCamish, Origin head of policy and sustainability the legislation would provide a great start in framing a cohesive policy for Australia to use less carbon in the future.
