MEDIA RELEASE
10 October 2017
Practical focus on renewable energy and storage welcomed in Liberal Energy Plan
Today's Liberal Energy Plan is a welcome recognition that the future of energy in SA is clean and renewable, says the state's peak environment body, Conservation SA.
"We welcome the focus in the Liberal Plan on practical measures to increase the level of clean energy and storage in our state," said Conservation SA Chief Executive Craig Wilkins.
"However, there are clear gaps that don't capture the full potential of the technology and distribution revolution underway.
"In particular, the lack of measures to help share the benefits of the energy transition with low income households and renters, and the lack of action on community-scale energy, is disappointing,” he said.
"Scrapping the state's renewable energy target doesn't make sense when the investment drive for renewables is being led by industry and community, not by governments. This is empty-gesture politics and does not match the practical measures in the rest of the plan.
"Also, the support for fracking and unconventional gas means that both Labor and Liberal are stuck supporting the expansion of the state's fossil fuel footprint,” said Mr Wilkins.
"We strongly support the Liberal moratorium on fracking in the South East, and welcome their courage on this issue. So, if the Liberal party believes fracking is wrong in the South East, why isn't it the wrong option for the rest of South Australia?
"The focus on national — rather than state — action on energy reform only makes sense when we have a Federal Government willing to work positively towards creating a genuine low carbon energy system. Unfortunately, we don't. So in the meantime, South Australia has no choice but to go it alone.
"We look forward to working with the Liberal team to ensure we have a genuine, clean and just energy transition in South Australia," he said.
Release ends
Further comment: Craig Wilkins, 0417 879 439