Abbott still set on solar energy plan

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott says it would be a "good thing" if the coalition met its target to subsidise more solar energy-powered homes.

The coalition's direct action plan to address climate change, launched in 2010, set aside $100 million a year to fund solar energy for an extra one million homes by 2020.

Mr Abbott said today the coalition still intended to roll out a solar power scheme.

"Obviously there is a time that has elapsed since the direct action policy was first announced," he told reporters.

"But yes, we think it would be a very good thing if we could get one million solar roofs by 2020.

"Believe you me, the construction pace we need to achieve that is not nearly as great as the construction pace the government needs to achieve its NBN (national broadband network) targets."

Under the coalition's policy, the solar energy goal would be achieved through 100,000 rebates a year of $1000 each for either solar photovoltaic or solar hot water rooftop units.

With seven years between 2013 and 2020, the coalition would have to find $143 million a year to meet its goal, assuming the rebate level isn't raised.

The coalition has the same goal as Labor to achieve a five per cent cut in carbon emissions by 2020.

Source: http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/07/09/506535_latest-news.html

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