Labor and the Clean Energy Council are looking to start (RET) renewable energy target negotiations again agreeing to budge and reduce the target in order to get a bipartisan deal before Christmas.

Both opposition leader (Bill Shorten & Co.) and the Clean Energy Council (CEC) have written letters to the Federal Government trying to restore bipartisan support for the RET and bring back some much needed stability for the renewable energy industry.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten and Shadow Minister for Environment, Climate Change And Water Mark Butler have released a document saying that they will be open to further renewable energy target negotiations but they will not accept anything that cripples the industry.

“Labor remains committed to a strong and sustainable renewable energy sector, and we remain open to further discussions with the Government,” the document states.

“Investor confidence has been smashed by Tony Abbott’s decision to walk away from his previous support for renewable energy – investment in renewables has plummeted by 70 per cent since he became Prime Minister. Labor has always been prepared to work with the Government to return certainty to the sector and protect jobs.”

According to BusinessSpectator the CEC have also sent a letter to the Government saying they too want renewable energy target negotiations to continue and are willing to give up some ground in order to restore the industry.

“While we do not accept there is any cogent public policy case for reducing the RET, in order to restore bipartisanship on the policy we would consider proposals with a target for RET in the mid-to-high thirty thousand in 2020,” writes the CEC.

It has been suggested that the Governments response seemed to say that they would not budge from a real 20% target (a reduction to 27 000GWhrs) but they have encouraged the return of the renewable energy target negotiations.

“The Government is ready to resume negotiations bearing in mind the clear stated position that the energy market has changed and that the 20 per cent target based on 2009 forecasts no longer reflects market reality. Recalibration of the RET must take this into account and better align the target with changing consumption and market forecasts,” said Minister Hunt’s offices.

When asked if they were willing to look at what the CEC had put forward as it seemed they were definite on the 20% renewable energy target negotiations they responded with the following:-

“The Government has always been prepared to negotiate with the Labor Party on the RET. The specific details of those negotiations would take place in-confidence and we would again encourage the ALP to return to the table.”