Queensland Election Solar Scorecard

Solar Citizens has released its Solar Scorecard for the Queensland election – and there’s no surprises as to which parties lead and lag on renewables.

“To give voters the facts, we’ve assessed the party’s policies in detail, and it’s clear that this election Queenslanders have a very important choice to make about our energy future,” said Solar Citizens Queensland campaigner Louise Matthiesson.

Queensland Labor’s announcement yesterday certainly helped the party; putting it ahead of the LNP, which has vowed to ditch Labor’s 50% renewable energy target and wants to build a new coal-fired power station. However, overall the Greens lead the pack states the group.

“The Queensland Greens policies provide the most comprehensive commitments to a renewable energy future for Queensland, while other minor parties One Nation and Katter’s Australia Party lag well behind,” said Ms. Matthiesson.

The Queensland Greens have a policy of a mandatory Queensland renewable energy target of 90% by 2030. Among its other commitments, it wants to implement a moratorium on the issuing of licenses for new coal-fired power stations and has committed to $15 billion in investment over the next five years to build publicly owned clean energy facilities.

The Greens have pledged to support more flexible business models to assist Queenslanders in acquiring solar panels and home energy storage. The party says it will also provide fair and reasonable solar feed-in-tariffs that incorporate the value of greenhouse gas offsets and reduced transmission needs.

One Nation opposes a legislated renewables target for the states, wants to build coal power and is a no-show on the small-scale solar front says Solar Citizens. Katter’s Australian Party hasn’t announced support or otherwise for a mandatory renewables target, opposes new coal power and doesn’t appear to have any plans relating to helping more Queenslanders go solar.

The Scorecard can be viewed here and explanatory notes here.

Solar Citizens is calling on all political parties in Queensland to move towards 100% clean energy by making the following commitments:

1. Legislation for a renewable energy target of at least 50% by 2030.

2. Support new large-scale solar power and wind energy, while ruling out new coal-fired power stations.

3. Guaranteeing a fair price for solar electricity exported by Queensland solar households and remove barriers to uptake by low-income earners, businesses and communities.

Solar Citizens is an independent community group advocating for current and potential solar power system owners in Australia. Membership of the organisation is free and is open to anyone who is a solar supporter; regardless of  system ownership status.