Renewable Energy Amendment (Feed-in-Tariff for Electricity) Bill 2009 (Cth)
The purpose of this Bill is to create an Act which will amend the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 to support the greater commercialisation of renewable energy technologies, and for related purposes. The Bill was introduced into Parliament on 18 August 2009, has had 2 readings and is currently being debated in the House of Representatives.

Clean Energy Security Bill 2009 (Cth)
The purpose of this Bill is to create an Act which will amend the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000, and for related purposes. The Bill was introduced into Parliament on 14 September 2009 and has had two readings and is currently being debated in the House of Representatives.

Under the Act as amended, renewable energy certificates can be created by people who generate power from accredited power stations using eligible energy sources which, following an amendment to the Bill, will include eligible waste coal mine gas (WMCG) for a transitional period as well as eligible renewable energy sources.

The Renewable Energy (Electricity)(Charge) Act 2000 (Charge Act) sets the level of the shortfall charge for non-compliance by wholesale purchasers of electricity with the scheme. The Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Charge) Amendment Act 2009 has also now been passed which amends the Charge Act to increase the shortfall charge payable by wholesale purchasers from $40 per megawatt-hour to $65 per megawatt hour. Partial exemptions from the shortfall charge for emissions-intensive trade-exposed activities have been provided for in the Act.

The Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 have also been amended to implement a new ‘solar credits’ mechanism. The mechanism will apply to eligible small generation units installed on or after 9 June 2009 and will allow the owners of these systems to earn multiple renewable energy certificates with respect to the energy generated from those systems. The Government envisages that suppliers of solar hot water systems, roof solar panel and small scale wind and micro hydro systems may offer a discount on the price of the system in return for the owner of the system agreeing to transfer the renewable energy certificates earned to the supplier.

The legislation and regulations underpinning the expanded Mandatory Renewable Energy Target Scheme will be reviewed in 2014. More...

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Amendment Bill 2009 (Cth)
The Bill amends the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 to: clarify definitions; require results of audits to be included on the National Greenhouse and Energy Register; extend secrecy requirements to cover audit information; allow the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to review certain decisions made by the Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer (GEDO); give the GEDO authority to audit certain reporting entities; expand the scope of the legislative instrument relating to guidelines for external auditors; require auditors to apply to the GEDO for registration and provide the minister with power to determine registration requirements; remove the requirement for the GEDO to publish corporate level certain energy production information; and make consequential amendments. This Bill was passed on 7 September 2009 and is awaiting assent.