National solar feed-in tariff called for

Ballarat Courier
Tuesday 29/4/2008 Page: 6

THE Federal Opposition has called for a national solar payment to encourage more home owners to generate solar power. The Queensland and South Australian governments have approved such tariffs, which pay households above the retail rate for electricity generated by solar panels. Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt yesterday said a draft plan should be prepared for a national tariff which has a guaranteed rate of pay for solar electricity feedback into the grid.

We should be aiming for more than a piecemeal approach," Mr Hunt says in notes for a speech given in Sydney yesterday. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and state premiers agreed last month to consider options for a harmonised approach to renewable energy feed-in tariffs. Mr Hunt also told the Climate Action Network Australia conference that the nation needs to develop large-scale projects to create baseload solar power. Mr Hunt said the coalition now has a vision of Australia becoming the world's first "solar continent."