Citizens Climate Campaign - Take Action Now

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Citizens Climate Campaign	Take Action Now
Solar not Sequestration	Walk Against Warming - Sydney, 2007

On Tuesday 13 May the Federal Budget removed the $8000 solar panel rebate for households with an income of more than $100,000.

The Environment Minister Peter Garrett justified means testing the grant saying it would "ensure that the solar rebates would go to those who need them most".

However, with a typical unit costing around $20,000 for an average home, a householder would still have to pay $12,000, meaning that only wealthier households are likely to install solar power.

When questioned on the 7.30 Report, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said:

"You've actually got to start to draw the line somewhere. At the end of the day, you know,
do we want millionaires getting the baby bonus, millionaires getting the solar panel rebate?"

Walk Against Warming - Sydney, 2007

The Federal government has clearly missed the point.

This is not an issue of social justice.

The key benefits of increased solar power generation are not for the individual, but for the overall reduction of greenhouse emissions and the support of an industry that can help reduce emissions in the future.

The threshold is already having a devastating effect with solar installers estimating that 90% of their grid business will now be cancelled.

(Sydney Morning Herald 22.5.08)

On Wednesday 14 May it was announced that the planned 'clean coal' Kwinana power station in W.A. would be cancelled, because of the unsuitability of deep-sea storage beds off Perth.

The failure of the project points to the complex geological problems associated with safely burying millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide under the sea-bed.

In spite of this setback and continuing uncertainty about the technology, there was further evidence of government support for coal as opposed to renewable energy on Saturday 17 May.

Draft laws were quietly released by the Federal government, which would pass perpetual liability for carbon leakage into public hands.

The Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson justified the draft laws, describing carbon capture and storage as "essential for the long-term sustainability of coal-fired power generation" (Sydney Morning Herald 19.5.08).

Explanatory notes for the draft bill admit that just the exploration of sites suitable to sequester CO₂ will cost multiple millions of dollars, and the cost of greenhouse transport, injection and storage projects would be billions of dollars.

"Coal corporations will not commit to storing tens of millions of tonnes of CO₂ unless they are guaranteed that the governments will carry their liability in perpetuity… the Government should fund technologies that promote the long-term sustainability of the planet, not the coal industry" ( (Senator Christine Milne 19.5.08).

We have prepared a message that can be sent to the Environment Minister Peter Garrett.

However you cannot email him, you will need to go to his website and fill out a form.

Click here to go to the Environment Minister's website. Then fill-out the form and cut-and-paste the message below.

Including comments of your own would show your personal concern about this issue, and would make it look different from the hundreds of others we hope will be sent.

On Tuesday 13 May the Federal Budget removed the $8000 solar panel rebate for households with an income of more than $100,000.

You justified means testing the grant saying it would "ensure that the solar rebates would go to those who need them most". However, with a typical unit costing around $20,000 for an average home, a householder would still have to pay $12,000, meaning that only wealthier households are likely to install solar power.

The Federal government has clearly missed the point. This is not an issue of social justice. The key benefits of increased solar power generation are not for the individual, but for the overall reduction of greenhouse emissions and the support of an industry that can help reduce emissions in the future.

The threshold is already having a devastating effect with solar installers estimating that 90% of their grid business will now be cancelled.

In stark contrast to this, there has been further evidence of your government's support for coal as opposed to renewable energy. Explanatory notes for the draft bill admit that just the exploration of sites suitable to sequester CO2 will cost multiple millions of dollars, and the cost of greenhouse transport, injection and storage projects would be billions of dollars. The bill would also pass perpetual liability for carbon leakage into public hands.

I believe that every dollar we spend on coal is a missed opportunity that will further undermine Australia's competitive advantage in renewable energy technologies.

Will your Government raise the threshold on the solar panel rebate so that it does in fact only exclude "millionaires", as the Prime Minister stated it should?

Why is your Government so unconcerned for the viability of small Australian businesses trying to make a living from solar installation?

Please send me a list of renewable energy projects currently receiving financial support from your Government so I can see the extent of your commitment to stimulating the renewable energy industry.

What moral right does your Government have to impose on future generations of Australian taxpayers the liability for a possible disaster due to escape of sequestered CO2?

(your name)

Regards from the Citizens Climate Campaign Committee