Feed-in laws a first step towards powering the future
14 May 07
Feed-in laws a first step towards powering the future
ACT Greens MLA, Dr Deb Foskey today announced her in-principle support for Mick Gentleman's Private Member's Bill to set up feed-in laws in the ACT.
"In the absence of a Climate Change strategy from the ACT Stanhope government, it is good to see that one of the Labor Members is giving serious consideration to boosting the take-up of solar energy in the ACT," said Dr Foskey.
"Feed-in laws, which guarantee a good price to producers of electricity from rooftop solar panels, are the single most successful measure a government can take to increase the take-up of solar power."
"This has been demonstrated in many European countries where attractive payments for electricity produced from renewables have played a major role in stimulating demand for solar and wind technologies."
Dr Foskey hailed Mr Gentleman’s Bill as “timely”, saying: "The ACT urgently needs to set up a regime to encourage the production of renewably-sourced electricity.”
"In the past we have counted on the electricity produced by the Snowy Hydro Scheme for renewable power - but if the dams dry up, so will this source of electricity.”
"Unless we set up alternative and sustainable means of production, we will be sourcing more of our electricity from coal - thus adding to our greenhouse gases."
"Feed-in laws, along with subsidies for installation of solar panels, will be an important step in turning Canberra’s rooves into the power plants of the future. Mr Gentleman’s Bill is a definite step in the right direction," Dr Foskey said.
