ENERGY POLICY – AUSTRALIA

Labor ponders emissions target showdown

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 27-Jul-18

Labor is expected to support the passage of the federal government’s National Energy Guarantee in the House of Representatives. However, it is understood that Labor will seek to amend the NEG’s carbon emissions reduction target in the Senate, and it may have the numbers to achieve this. The government’s intention is that emissions be reduced to 26 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030, but Labor believes that a higher target should be set. If Labor go ahead with this strategy, it could well become a key election issue.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIA. ENERGY SECURITY BOARD

Snowy 2.0 a risk to threatened fauna

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 2 : 26-Jul-18

An environmental impact statement has raised concern that the Federal Government’s proposed expansion of the Snowy Hydro scheme could adversely affect the habitat of some endangered species. These include the smoky mouse, the gang-gang cockatoo and the eastern pygmy possum. The EIS notes that measures are being taken to minimise the impact that exploratory work for the Snowy 2.0 project is having on the habitats of at-risk species.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT. OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE, NEW SOUTH WALES. NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Labor move to kill off energy deal

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 26-Jul-18

The Federal Government will require the support of Senate crossbenchers for its national energy guarantee, after Labor signalled that it will oppose the policy even if it is approved by the states and territories. Labor’s energy spokesman Mark Butler has described the NEG’s carbon emissions reduction target as "un­realistic" and warned that the policy will adversely affect jobs and investment in the renewable energy sector. Smart Energy Council CEO John Grimes has expressed similar concerns, while Victorian Energy Policy Centre director Bruce Mountain has questioned the need for the NEG.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, SMART ENERGY COUNCIL, VICTORIAN ENERGY POLICY CENTRE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS, ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIA. ENERGY SECURITY BOARD, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET OPERATOR LIMITED

Power price warning to Labor states

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 25-Jul-18

The final version of the Federal Government’s national energy guarantee estimates that the average household’s electricity costs would fall by about $550 a year. Previous modelling had suggested that the NEG would reduce electricity bills by about $A400 a year. Meanwhile, the Energy Security Board has warned Labor-led states that investment in green energy programs will be adversely affected if they do not support the NEG at the upcoming Council of Australian Governments meeting. The ESB also says electricity prices will remain high of the NEG is not implemented.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ENERGY SECURITY BOARD, COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, TOMAGO ALUMINIUM COMPANY PTY LTD, CLEAN ENERGY COUNCIL LIMITED

Business split over carbon offsets

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Original article by Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 20-Jul-18

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg is yet to decide whether international carbon offsets should be used as part of the National Energy Guarantee. Those opposing the idea include Labor and large energy users, while the Business Council of Australia is in favour of their use. Dow Chemical noted in its submission on the NEG that Europe’s experience in this area indicates that there is potential for abuse when international carbon offsets are utilised.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, DOW CHEMICAL AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CLEAN ENERGY COUNCIL LIMITED, GREENPEACE AUSTRALIA PACIFIC LIMITED, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, REPUTEX AUSTRALIA PACIFIC PTY LTD

NEG too costly, say big energy users

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Original article by Perry Williams, Joe Kelly, Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 18-Jul-18

The ACTU has expressed concern that the federal government’s proposed national energy guarantee will result in higher electricity prices and ensure that large electricity retailers retain their market power. The ACTU has also questioned whether the NEG will have much impact on carbon emissions. Major industrial users of electricity have also warned that the NEG is unlikely to result in lower electricity prices.

CORPORATES
ACTU, DOW CHEMICAL AUSTRALIA LIMITED, BRICKWORKS LIMITED – ASX BKW, RUSAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, QUEENSLAND ALUMINA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Keep coal burning for long term

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Original article by Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 17-Jul-18

The Australian Energy Market Operator has urged against the premature closure of coal-fired power stations, saying they should remain operating for as long as possible before being replaced by renewable energy sources. AEMO stated that this will ensure stability in the national energy market, as well as providing energy at low cost. AEMO notes that 30 per cent of the NEM’s current coal resources are due to reach the end of their technical life within the next two decades. The federal government will try to convince the states and territories to adopt its National Energy Guarantee at a meeting of the Council of Australian Governments’ energy council in August.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET OPERATOR LIMITED, COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Coal stays in energy fix

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Original article by Andrew Tillett, Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 12-Jul-18

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has made 56 recommendations in the final report of its investigation into retail energy pricing. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has indicated that the Federal Government may support the ACCC’s recommendation that the cost of new dispatchable electricity generation be subsidised by taxpayers. This could potentially include coal-fired power stations. Other recommendations include replacing electricity retailer’s standing offers with default offers.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET OPERATOR LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. ENERGY SECURITY BOARD, QUEENSLAND MEDIA CLUB, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, VICTORIA. DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT, LAND, WATER AND PLANNING

Renewables generate 19pc of grid already

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Original article by Ben Potter
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 6-Jul-18

Renewable energy was responsible for just under 19 per cent of National Electricity Market generation in the year to June 2018, according to the Australia Institute. The figure includes rooftop solar generation, or 15.7 per cent if rooftop solar generation is not included. The Australia Institute claims that new solar and wind generation that is being built or committed to under the federal government’s Renewable Energy Target and the Victorian government’s RET would be sufficient for the former to meet its 2030 emissions target without the need for a National Energy Guarantee.

CORPORATES
THE AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE LIMITED, REPUTEX AUSTRALIA PACIFIC PTY LTD, GREEN ENERGY MARKETS PTY LTD

Abbott call: pull out of Paris deal

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 4-Jul-18

Former prime minister Tony Abbott says Australia should withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change, arguing that it would be the best way to preserve jobs and keep electricity prices down. Meanwhile, the National Party wants its proposed $A5bn government energy fund to be used to finance the construction of at least three new baseload power stations and to both increase the capacity and extend the operational life of existing power stations.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL-NATIONAL PARTY OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY