Last weekend, Territory Alliance released a strong renewables policy position paper. It recognises that investing in renewables helps us create meaningful jobs for Territorians in sustainable, long-lasting industries and break free from the boom-and-bust cycles of the fossil-fuel and resource sectors that is the NT economy’s bread and butter.
The party has proposed a Renewables Taskforce, to be chaired by the Chief Minister, that would continue much of the important work that has begun under the current government and the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission, and we hope make renewables a top priority.
Their paper also proposes investing in $10 million over the forward estimates to a Battery Storage Subsidy Program and $10 million towards the establishment of a $50 million renewables investment fund for NT homelands.
This follows new policies from the Country Liberal Party, including doubling the current incentive for rooftop solar batteries from $6,000 to $12,000️.
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro MLA also said they would also "allow Territory Generation to invest in renewable energy". At the moment, Territory Generation is a government-owned power producer that's mainly in the business of gas - so this would be a huge shift!
We’re disappointed not to see an explicit commitment to the current government’s 50% renewable energy target by 2030 in either party's policy documents. However, we have had verbal and written commitments to this target from both and we expect them to honour it should they be successful in the election.