The news in the solar industry this week mostly centers on the 2013/14 budget that was released this week. The other big talk is about the proposed import tax on Chinese solar panels sold in the country in a bid to stop ‘dumping.’ In other news, Solar Citizens has officially launched this week and we farewell a solar warrior in Port Augusta.
Started in the USA and India, the dumping tax or import tariffs imposed on Chinese solar panel companies seem to be spreading. The EU has now put a proposal forward for an extremely high tax of around 47% which, if accepted, will start in the next month and last for five years. Tindo Solar, Australia’s own solar panel manufacturer is also working toward putting a similar proposal forward. Many are concerned that these taxes or tariffs will be to the detriment of the entire industry, therefore not only affecting Chinese solar panel importers. Click here to read the full article.
The solar energy consumer rights group, Solar Citizens, has officially launched this week. The group gives solar owners a chance to group together and be heard. They will lobby against special tariffs being introduced in Queensland, support feed-in tariffs in Tasmania through the energy company privatisation and help NSW where individuals have to negotiate their own power purchase agreements. This is just to start. The group aims to give all solar power and solar hot water owns a ‘fair go.’ Click here to read the full article.
Renewable energies did not fair too badly in the 2013/14 Federal Budget released this week. Many, including the Clean Energy Council, are not happy about funding being deferred and decreased for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) but with significant cuts rumoured for clean energy not actually happening, the outcome was definitely better than anticipated. Fossil fuels endured a few funding cuts to carbon capture and storage programs, Coal Mining Abatement Technology Support Packages as well as to Coal Sector Job Packages. Click here to read the full article.
The Mayor of Port Augusta for the last thirty years has sadly passed away from cancer this week. Mayor Joy Baluch passed away, aged 80. She was a solar warrior striving towards a cleaner Port Augusta. With her husband and son suffering with terminal diseases she believed were as a result of the coal mining stations, she aimed to replace them with solar thermal energy. She believed in the switch and lobbied strongly for it. Many hope to keep her dream alive and hope that Port Augusta will one day be free from coal fired stations. Click here to read the full article.
Stay safe and warm this weekend Queensland!