No talks on solar rebate test

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INDUSTRY was not consulted before the Government decided tomeans-test rebates for solar energy panels, a government spokesmanconfirmed last night.
The solar industry estimates the Budget night announcement earlierthis month will kill off $300 million worth of orders a year,delivering an 80 per cent decline on 2007 earnings.
"I understand there was no direct consultation with businessbefore the Budget announcement on the rebates," the spokesmanfor Environment Minister Peter Garrett told BusinessDaily.
A delegation from the solar industry said it was "verydisappointed" after meeting Mr Garrett yesterday to discussthe impact of the new policy to limit the $8000 rebate, which inmost cases would cover just half of the cost of a solar system.
"We estimate that removing the incentive for householdsearning more than $100,000 net to install solar panels will costthe industry at least $300 million," delegate leader RodgerMead told BusinessDaily.
Mr Mead, Australian head of giant global solar energy companyConenergy, said the industry had experienced a massive withdrawalof orders for panels since Budget night.
"It has already led to job losses and may end up in businessesfolding," Mr Mead said.
"After meeting the minister, we were not encouraged that thegovernment sees the urgency of acting now before more damage isdone.
"It will be much harder to resuscitate a dead corpse if theydelay restoring the rebates to encourage everyone to put solar ontheir roofs."
Listed company Solco said that, in Victoria, more than $1.5 millionworth of business had been put on hold already by home owners whoare just over the means test limit.
Green Energy Trading chief executive Ric Brazzale added thedecision came at a time of increased community concern that theclimate change problem is worse than expected. Share this article What is this?