The Australian points out that it is clear SAs unilateral rush to a 50 per cent renewable energy share seriously weakened its network, hastening the demise of coal-fired generation, pricing out gas-fired generation and, without adequate storage, increasing reliance on interconnection.
Recently, Australia's four Labor governments have promised to have zero net carbon emissions by 2050, gaining the praise of former US vice president Al Gore. The paper criticizes that this move makes a mockery of the federal governments leadership on climate policy.
It also argues that a national approach to provide investment certainty is needed as the hotchpotch of state and national energy and climate policies will take a power of unwinding.
The Australian emphasizes that a clean energy target must be left for the federal government to set and manage, and all governments and parties must adopt a clear hierarchy on Malcolm Turnbulls trilemma of priorities: affordability, security and emissions reductions. However, given our economic needs and the trifling impact our emissions have on global trends, security and affordability must come first with the aspiration of meeting emissions reductions targets coming a distant third.
