The Australian Greens today backed the call by Tasmanian company Roaring 40s for the federal government to lift its renewable energy target to prevent more investment being driven offshore.
 
The Greens will challenge the government to match China's renewable energy target by proposing amendments to the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2006 when it is debated in parliament later this month.
 
Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said it was alarming that China is benefiting from the jobs and investment that could be rolling out in Australian communities as well as in China.
 
"The leadership being shown by China in setting a 15 per cent target for renewable energy is not only great for the global environment but it will boost the Chinese economy by creating competitive advantage in renewable energy technology," Senator Milne said in Hobart.
 
"This could be a win-win situation if Australia was to do the same and back its own renewable energy companies investing at home as well as offshore.
 
"Today Roaring 40s announced a new joint venture for a wind farm on China's east coast. This farm will have an operating capacity of 48.75MW and is part of a target of 150MW for joint development, making Roaring 40s a major player in renewable energy in China.
 
"To achieve a 60 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions globally by 2050 we need renewable energy at home and abroad but that reduction will not be reached if the federal government continues to refuse to increase the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) from its current level of just under 2 per cent, a target which has already been achieved.
 
"The federal government initiated review of the MRET recommended increasing the target but the government rejected this in formulating its energy policy in 2004.
 
"This refusal to support the industry, and Environment Minister Ian Campbell's recent interventions on questionable grounds to prevent wind projects, means Australia is failing to capitalise on the investment required to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and avert the worst consequences of climate change."
 
Contact: Katrina Willis 03 6234 4566 or 0437 587 562