Reports that solar power has become cheaper than fossil‐fuel energy in parts of NSW is a wake
up call for the NSW Government to commit to the clean energy sources of the future and start the
transition away from polluting coal‐fired power, according to the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.
“The sun is setting on the era of ‘cheap’ coal‐fired electricity, with the price of renewables consistently
dropping in the past decade while the price of polluting coal‐fired power climbs ever higher,” Chief
Executive Officer Pepe Clarke said today.
“The number of Australian households generating power from the sun has grown exponentially since
the late 1990s. As the number of photovoltaic systems installed has grown, costs have come down,
dropping by 22 per cent each time cumulative capacity has doubled.
“However, the incredible potential for our clean energy future relies on a stable, predictable investment
environment for individuals and business.
“We need the State government to ensure electricity retailers pay a fair market rate for household- generated solar power fed back into the grid, and the fledgling solar industry is supported while tariffs
for household systems are set.
“The consistent drop in the price of renewables and the trend towards grid parity with fossil fuels clearly
shows that we do not need new coal‐fired power stations in NSW. It’s time for the NSW Government to
rule out the construction of polluting coal fired power stations at Mount Piper and Bayswater.
“We do not need new coal-fired power. What our state needs is smart government policy to encourage
investment in medium and large scale renewables, drive massive improvements in energy efficiency and
encourage the uptake of solar hot water systems.
“Replacing fossil fuelled power sources with world‐class renewable energy and energy efficiency
programs will secure our state’s energy security, create new jobs, stimulate economic growth and help
make the deep cuts needed to carbon pollution,” he said.
Solar energy cost hits par with coal fuel by Ben Cubby, Brian Robins, Melissa Lahoud (SMH, 18/08)
