The Clean Energy Council (CEC) says Queensland’s commitment to a 50 per cent target for renewable energy by 2030 means more jobs, lower prices.

The Queensland Government announced a reverse auction scheme this week expected to deliver 400 MW of new projects.

CEC Chief Executive Kane Thornton said in a statement that Queensland is in the middle of a renewable energy investment boom.

He said almost 20 projects are either under construction or due to start this year.

States leading the Federal Government on energy policy

Mr Thornton said the government’s strong and comprehensive package ensures greater energy security and increased competition in the state’s energy market.

He said the current investment boom is worth $2.2 billion, 1000 MW of new generation capacity and almost 1,700 direct jobs.

“The Federal Government’s Renewable Energy Target has been a key driver of this new investment, but the target is only to 2020 and there is no national energy policy in place beyond this point.”

“A decade has now been wasted on the political debate about energy policy and this has resulted in under-investment in new generation. The states are no longer waiting for leadership from the Federal Government.”

Renewables now cheaper than coal and gas

He said renewable energy such as solar and wind has fallen in price to such an extent that it is now cheaper than coal or gas.

“With more than half of our coal plants past retirement age and the cost of gas skyrocketing, we can modernise our energy system with renewables at a lower cost than ever before,” he said.

Mr Thornton said reverse auctions – where the winner bids lowest – pioneered with great success and record low project cost in Australia by the ACT Government.

He said he hoped the final report from the Chief Scientist’s review of Australia’s energy security will lead to federal-state bipartisanship on renewables.

“But it is understandable that states like Queensland are being proactive in providing the long-term investment certainty the sector needs to invest in new power generation.”