25 June 2010 – The enhanced Renewable Energy Target and Building Energy Efficiency legislation has passed through the Parliament, to ensure that 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity supply in 2020 will come from renewable sources.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Penny Wong, welcomed the move and said the legislation split the Renewable Energy Target into two parts from 1 January 2011.
The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme will provide support to households installing technologies such as solar panels and solar hot water systems and the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target will drive investment in renewable energy projects like wind farms, commercial solar and geothermal, she said.
Senator Wong said Government moved three further amendments to the RET – relating to excess banked RECs, a household RECs review and Solar Credits.
Further amendments were successfully moved by the Opposition and the cross benches in the Senate, including amendments relating to further assistance for emissions-intensive industries and the imposition of a cap on the size of heat pumps supported under the RET.
Senator Wong also welcomed the passage earlier this week of the Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Bill.