Fed: RET deal a win for big polluters: Greens
PARLY 016Wed Aug 19 17:33:31 EST 2009
CANBERRA, Aug 19 AAP - The coalition's deal with the federal government to pass its renewable energy target (RET) is a win for big polluters, the Australian Greens say.
The deal will see Labor's bill to have 20 per cent of electricity come from renewable sources by 2020 pass the Senate.
The RET will work by forcing electricity companies to buy a certain portion of power from renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal.
The opposition secured industry more exemptions from the cost of the RET in the deal struck on Wednesday.
As a result, households and businesses will pay higher power prices.
"This deal to exempt polluters from the renewable energy target puts the full bill for moving to the renewably-powered economy into the pockets of the community, letting polluters benefit from the shift while bearing none of the cost," Greens senator Christine Milne said.
The Greens will attempt to amend the legislation but Senator Milne said the party would support the bills whether her proposed changes were accepted or not.
