ACT considers a renewable energy feed-in tariff

A committee has been established to investigate models for a renewable energy feed-in tariff for the ACT.

Labor MLA Mick Gentleman has introduced into the Legislative Assembly an exposure draft of a Private Member’s Bill to establish a feed-in tariff — one of the actions set out in the 2007-2011 Action Plan of the government's recent Climate Change Strategy.

“Feed-in tariffs compensate individuals for renewable energy returned to the power grid through micro-generation systems such as photovoltaic cells or other renewable energy generators,” Stanhope said.

“A feed-in tariff would pay generators a price per kilowatt hour of renewable power generated, with the aim of encouraging individuals and businesses to invest in renewable technologies, over time reducing the community’s reliance on fossil fuels.”

The inter-departmental committee will be made up of officers from the Chief Minister’s Department, the Department of Treasury and the Department of Territory and Municipal Services.

The IDC will prepare a discussion paper which will inform a period of public consultation, expected to begin before the end of the year and which will extend until mid-February.