WA Labor has backtracked from a 50 per cent renewable energy target for the gas-dependent state, drawing criticism from the Liberals and Greens.
Opposition energy spokesman Bill Johnston revealed Labor's aim to draw at least half of the state's energy from renewable sources by 2030 at a National Environmental Law Association conference in Perth in October.
Mr Johnston now says the party won't introduce a target if it wins the March state election, although it aspires to have more renewable energy in WA.
"After the election, we will sit down with industry and the community to see what is achievable and affordable," Mr Johnston said in a statement on Thursday.
Energy Minister Mike Nahan said he'd heard Mr Johnston utter the 50 per cent commitment several times at various events and it was the reason why the Greens gave Labor preferences.
The opposition was now "sneaking around the issue".
"It is policy driven by ideology," Dr Nahan told reporters.
"He is trying to buy the interest groups but not tell the public."
The WA Greens, which recently announced an ambitious goal to make the state's energy sources entirely renewable by 2030, have labelled the opposition "absolutely spineless" for walking away from a target.
"Promising to sit down with industry and the community after the election is an absolute cop-out by Bill Johnston and WA Labor, and the people of Western Australia will not buy it," Greens candidate for East Metropolitan Tim Clifford said.
Dr Nahan said renewables currently represented just over 13 per cent of WA's energy mix and the Liberals were on track to meet a 23.5 per cent target by 2020 under a COAG agreement.
"There will be growth beyond that to about 30 per cent, maybe 33 per cent," Dr Nahan said.
WA Labor leader Mark McGowan said it was appropriate to leave renewable energy targets up to the federal government.
Mr McGowan has said over the past month Labor would like to see the coal mining town of Collie to also have a renewable energy industry and coastal Albany be 100 per cent renewable through wave power.
"But there will be no state renewable energy target," Mr McGowan told reporters.
Dr Nahan pointed to power outages in South Australia in saying more renewables meant less reliability.
"We're after a balanced system - coal, gas and renewable - and focused on lower prices and reliability."
He said WA had Australia's highest use of gas, which was low carbon-intensive, and the Liberals wanted to retain the coal industry as long as it was efficient.
