Canberra Times
Thursday 3/9/2009 Page: 6
More than 22,000 new green jobs can be created if the Rudd Government introduces a national gross feed-in tariff for solar energy, a new economic study says. The Access Economics report on green job creation, commissioned by the Electrical Trades Union, estimates more than 1600 jobs in Australia's fledgling solar energy industry were lost or put at risk when all production of photovoltaic panels moved offshore in March.
The report coincides with the announcement yesterday by federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong of a $130 million assistance package for methane emitting industries in NSW - including coal mines and land-fill operations - affected by the switch from a state emissions reduction scheme to a national emissions trading scheme. Senator Wong said the cash handouts would "ensure these entities continue to remain viable and able to make a valuable economic and environmental contribution to Australia".
Greens energy spokeswoman Christine Milne has accused the minister of "giving with both hands" to polluters. Senator Milne said the Rudd Government had already compromised the integrity of the newly introduced Renewable Energy Target scheme by allowing waste coal mine gas generators to be included.
The Access Economics study estimates a national gross feed-in tariff - which pays renewable energy generators for all electricity produced, not just surplus energy - will dramatically boost uptake of solar energy. It estimates existing state and territory feed-in tariff schemes will create about 2000 jobs over the next five years in photovoltaic manufacturing and installation. By contrast, a national gross feed-in tariff will create 9500 solar jobs over the same period, building to 22,500 news jobs by 2020.
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