The federal government's national energy guarantee amounts to a subsidy for coal, South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill says.
Mr Weatherill says a decision by the commonwealth to ditch the clean energy target shows an inability to stand up to those seeking to ensure long-term support for the coal sector.
"The announcement today amounts to a subsidy of the coal industry," he told reporters on Tuesday.
The plan includes a reliability guarantee that will be set to deliver the right level of dispatchable power - from sources such as coal, gas, pumped hydro and batteries - needed in each state.
The level will be set by the Australian Energy Market Commission and Australian Energy Market Operator.
An emissions guarantee will be set to meet Australia's Paris reduction target.
The level will be set by the federal government and enforced by the Australian Energy Regulator.
But Mr Weatherill said any levels to be set by the government would work against any greater uptake of renewable energy which was creating the jobs of the future.
"What they're wanting us to do is to turn our back on that and turn back to a coal past," he said.
