LNP supports renewable energy at a cost Queenslanders can afford

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• Only the LNP has a five-point plan to power renewables to ensure Queensland gets its fair share of renewable energy investment and jobs
• Labor’s extreme renewable energy target will cause energy insecurity, cost taxpayers $18 billion and force households, businesses and industry to pay more
• LNP will support the National Renewable Energy target that will see more than 23 per cent of Australia’s electricity generated from renewable energy by 2020

The Liberal National Party has today released a five-point renewable energy plan that will ensure Queensland gets more than its fair share of renewable energy investment and jobs.

LNP Shadow Energy Minister Michael Hart said, unlike Labor’s reckless renewable energy target, the LNP’s plan would support the development of renewable energy projects and provide Queenslanders with reliable and affordable power.

“Today I make a firm commitment to the people of Queensland that the LNP will support the National Renewable Energy target that will see more than 23 per cent of Australia’s electricity generated from renewable energy by 2020,” Mr Hart said.

“Everywhere I travel, the story is the same – Queenslanders power bills are skyrocketing and they want price relief.

“If elected, the LNP will implement a five-point plan to ensure Queensland gets its fair share of renewable energy investment, without increasing prices.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s extreme renewable energy target will cause energy insecurity, cost taxpayers $18 billion and force households, businesses and industry to pay more.”

Mr Hart said the LNP’s renewable energy policy would be sensible and not threaten Queensland’s energy security.

“We need to get the balance right between renewable and fossil fuels and avoid, at all costs, the South Australian situation where that government’s over-reliance on renewable energy left households, hospitals and businesses without power,” he said.

“The LNP understands renewables have a role to play in Queensland’s future energy landscape and that’s why we’ll be setting up a one-stop shop to facilitate approvals for renewable energy projects.

“We will also investigate and monitor network linkages to the National Energy Market to ensure renewable energy projects have access to the national market and to help protect Queenslanders from excessive volatility in prices.

“We will maintain energy security by constantly monitoring intermittent generation for any threat to reliability of supply for Queenslanders.

“The LNP’s renewable energy policy will encourage renewable energy supply without expecting all Queenslanders to subsidise new technologies.”

The LNP’s five-point plan to Power Renewable Energy will:

• Through a Resources and Energy Cabinet Committee, develop an efficient regulatory framework to encourage renewable investment in Queensland. Queensland needs a world-class regulatory framework to secure further investment in renewable energy. At the moment, Queensland has the lowest level of large-scale renewable energy capacity in the National Energy Market.
• Set up a one-stop shop to facilitate approvals for renewable energy projects. The $380 million Mount Emerald wind farm, in the Atherton Tablelands, took four years to obtain project approvals from the Local, State and Federal Governments. The Coordinator-General will be empowered to overcome any unreasonable delays in obtaining project approvals.
• Investigate and monitor network linkages to the National Energy Market to ensure renewable energy projects in Queensland have access to the National Energy Market and will protect Queenslanders from excessive volatility in wholesale electricity prices.
• Maintain energy security by constantly monitoring intermittent generation for any threat to reliability of supply for Queenslanders.
• Support the National Renewable Energy target that will see more than 23 per cent of Australia’s electricity generated from renewable energy by 2020.