Green Energy
Draft Energy White Paper Released
13 December 2011
The Australian Government today released the draft Energy White Paper for public consultation, alongside the release of the 2011 National Energy Security Assessment and the Strategic Framework for Alternative Transport Fuels.
The draft Energy White Paper sets out a series of proposed Commonwealth Government priorities to address challenges confronting Australia’s energy sector.
The draft Energy White Paper identifies four priority areas for further action:
Strengthening the resilience of Australia’s energy-policy framework;
Re-invigorating the energy market reform agenda;
Developing Australia’s critical energy resources – particularly gas; and
Accelerating clean energy outcomes.
Launching the document in Melbourne, Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP outlined the emerging challenges facing Australia’s energy sector, and reiterated the role of the Energy White paper in laying out the Commonwealth Government’s policy framework to address these challenges for the benefit of the community as a whole.
“Over the next two decades, Australia will require massive investment in the gas and electricity sectors – around $240 billion in generation, transmission and distribution,” Minister Ferguson said.
“We need sound regulatory frameworks and confidence from investors to ensure that the necessary investment is delivered, and the White Paper seeks to deliver this stable framework.
“The 2011 National Energy Security Assessment shows that overall Australia has a positive energy security assessment but we must remain vigilant, and the White Paper seeks to establish a more robust policy framework to increase our responsiveness to emerging challenges.
“In a period of significant change, improving the resilience of energy policy is critical. The Government therefore proposes that a strategic review of national energy policy be undertaken every four years, supported by a review every two years of national energy security. This will allow us to assess, and respond as required to emerging strategic market or policy developments in a timely and predictable way.
“The White Paper also focuses on the next round of energy market reform, including further privatisation of energy assets and the removal of retail price regulation to increase efficiencies and remove distortions in markets that deter private sector investment and are harmful to consumers’ interests.
“Further work should also be undertaken to extend energy market governance arrangements and principles to all Australian energy markets.
“In terms of consumers, the Government recognises that the community has experienced a period of rising energy prices. The White Paper recognises the need for greater consumer engagement to improve community understanding of investment and price drivers, which can lead to greater empowerment in terms of making informed decisions around managing energy use and associated costs.
“In a period of significant change, improving the resilience of energy policy is critical. The Government therefore proposes that a strategic review of national energy policy be undertaken every four years, supported by a review every two years of national energy security. This will allow us to assess, and respond as required to emerging strategic market or policy developments in a timely and predictable way.”
Alongside the release of the draft Energy White Paper, and following the passage of legislation giving effect to the carbon price, the Government is also today announcing it will no longer proceed with the introduction of emissions standards or Carbon Capture and Storage Ready requirements for new coal fired power stations.
“With the legislation of a carbon price, the Government has a position that it is best to let the market determine the most efficient investment outcomes within the energy market, carbon price and Renewable Energy Target framework,” Minister Ferguson said.
The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism will now begin a period of consultation on the draft Energy White Paper, including information sessions to be held in every state and territory capital city.
Written submissions are invited to be received no later than 16 March 2012.
The Government intends to release the final Energy White Paper around mid 2012.
The draft Energy White Paper and associated material is available at www.energywhitepaper.ret.gov.au.
via Draft Energy White Paper Released.
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Green Energy
Draft Energy White Paper Released
Draft Energy White Paper Released
13 December 2011
The Australian Government today released the draft Energy White Paper for public consultation, alongside the release of the 2011 National Energy Security Assessment and the Strategic Framework for Alternative Transport Fuels.
The draft Energy White Paper sets out a series of proposed Commonwealth Government priorities to address challenges confronting Australia’s energy sector.
The draft Energy White Paper identifies four priority areas for further action:
Strengthening the resilience of Australia’s energy-policy framework;
Re-invigorating the energy market reform agenda;
Developing Australia’s critical energy resources – particularly gas; and
Accelerating clean energy outcomes.
Launching the document in Melbourne, Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP outlined the emerging challenges facing Australia’s energy sector, and reiterated the role of the Energy White paper in laying out the Commonwealth Government’s policy framework to address these challenges for the benefit of the community as a whole.
“Over the next two decades, Australia will require massive investment in the gas and electricity sectors – around $240 billion in generation, transmission and distribution,” Minister Ferguson said.
“We need sound regulatory frameworks and confidence from investors to ensure that the necessary investment is delivered, and the White Paper seeks to deliver this stable framework.
“The 2011 National Energy Security Assessment shows that overall Australia has a positive energy security assessment but we must remain vigilant, and the White Paper seeks to establish a more robust policy framework to increase our responsiveness to emerging challenges.
“In a period of significant change, improving the resilience of energy policy is critical. The Government therefore proposes that a strategic review of national energy policy be undertaken every four years, supported by a review every two years of national energy security. This will allow us to assess, and respond as required to emerging strategic market or policy developments in a timely and predictable way.
“The White Paper also focuses on the next round of energy market reform, including further privatisation of energy assets and the removal of retail price regulation to increase efficiencies and remove distortions in markets that deter private sector investment and are harmful to consumers’ interests.
“Further work should also be undertaken to extend energy market governance arrangements and principles to all Australian energy markets.
“In terms of consumers, the Government recognises that the community has experienced a period of rising energy prices. The White Paper recognises the need for greater consumer engagement to improve community understanding of investment and price drivers, which can lead to greater empowerment in terms of making informed decisions around managing energy use and associated costs.
“In a period of significant change, improving the resilience of energy policy is critical. The Government therefore proposes that a strategic review of national energy policy be undertaken every four years, supported by a review every two years of national energy security. This will allow us to assess, and respond as required to emerging strategic market or policy developments in a timely and predictable way.”
Alongside the release of the draft Energy White Paper, and following the passage of legislation giving effect to the carbon price, the Government is also today announcing it will no longer proceed with the introduction of emissions standards or Carbon Capture and Storage Ready requirements for new coal fired power stations.
“With the legislation of a carbon price, the Government has a position that it is best to let the market determine the most efficient investment outcomes within the energy market, carbon price and Renewable Energy Target framework,” Minister Ferguson said.
The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism will now begin a period of consultation on the draft Energy White Paper, including information sessions to be held in every state and territory capital city.
Written submissions are invited to be received no later than 16 March 2012.
The Government intends to release the final Energy White Paper around mid 2012.
The draft Energy White Paper and associated material is available at www.energywhitepaper.ret.gov.au.
via Draft Energy White Paper Released.
- Energy Market Reforms Argued
The Clean Energy Council (CEC) has argued that energy market reform is crucial to keeping power prices down. In its submission to the Senate Select Committee on Electricity Prices, the CEC has argued that rules that underpin how the electricity industry...
- Pm Gillard On Surging Power Prices
As Prime Minister Julia Gillard addressed the Energy Policy Institute of Australia (EPIA, she likened the surging costs of household power bills to petrol prices.. Ms Gillard accepted that prices of energy had increased at unprecedented levels,...
- Power Pricing Surge
Charges 70 per cent higher than the American average A figure that will grow to 160 per cent in two years Exposes myth that Australian electricity is relatively cheap AUSTRALIANS pay 130 per cent more for electricity than Canadians, according to new...
- Investors Predict Carbon Tax Benefits
David Wroe and Katharine Murphy October 20, 2011 The world's top green investment groups have hailed Australia's carbon tax as a boon for investors. Photo: Nicolas Walker THE world's four major green investment groups representing $20 trillion...
- Australian Carbon Tax Not Too Burdensome On Energy Bills - Origin Ceo
By Ross Kelly Published Dow Jones Newswires SYDNEY -(Dow Jones)- Australia's carbon tax won't have a significant impact on the country's household electricity prices, which will remain competitive with those in other developed countries, the...