The event was held at Carousel, on Albert Park Lake, and the cool weather didn’t stop a significant number of the Council’s staff, board and members turning out to officially launch and recognise the Clean Energy Council and its role in providing ‘One Powerful Voice’ to represent the clean energy industry in Australia.

All sectors of the clean energy industry attended. Staff from companies involved with clean energy technologies, such as solar, wind, bioenergy and gas mingled with electricity generators, regulators, legal experts and media.

Mr Anthony welcomed attendees to the event and spoke of the process of merging the BCSE and Auswind to form the Clean Energy Council. While acknowledging the process had been long and at times difficult, Mr Anthony commended all those involved for efforts, and noted that the time is now right for ‘One Powerful Voice’ representing the clean energy industry in Australia.

Mr Anthony also had good news for members, advising that the Renewable Energy Generators of Australia (REGA) have expressed interest in joining the Clean Energy Council in the near future - further strengthening the membership, knowledge base, and position of the Clean Energy Council as the industry’s single peak representative body.

Article continues below…

Ms La Fontaine used the launch to present the Clean Energy Council’s five-point plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and growing the clean energy sector.

Of course, with the launch being held just days after the federal election was called, the non-partisan lobbying planned by the Clean Energy Council was also outlined by Ms La Fontaine.

Climate change and evolving to a clean, energy efficient economy are the two most important issues facing voters at this year’s election.

The Council will be looking for assurances in five key areas that are pivotal for nurturing Australia’s growing clean energy sector: energy efficiency targets and regulations for smarter power use; a market mechanism for clean power to compete; removal of systemic barriers to accessing clean power; an R&D fund to speed up new technologies coming online; and continued support for a robust emissions trading scheme.

Stationary energy is responsible for 50 per cent of Australia’s dangerous greenhouse gas emissions, and significant effort will be required in this sector specifically in order to reduce Australia’s environmental impact in the coming years.

“It’s imperative that the major political parties go to the election with the strongest possible policies that both respond to climate change and give clean energy industries the necessary level of support to flourish.”

Ms La Fontaine told members at the launch that one of the critical roles the Clean Energy Council will play in the lead up to the election is educating voters about the climate change policies of both major political parties early in the election campaign - in order to make the best choice for Australia.

And like Mr Anthony, Ms La Fontaine also took the opportunity to publicly thank the staff of Auswind and the BCSE who have merged to represent the new association, the interim board members of the Clean Energy Council, and the members who have been involved in the merger, through offering support and advice as the new association took shape.

The launch of the Clean Energy Council importantly saw the public debut for the brand mark of the new organisation.

“The logo epitomises our ultimate goal for an economically and environmentally sustainable Australia through the uptake of clean energy,” said Ms La Fontaine. “We’re renewable, we’re green but more importantly we have the technologies and the knowledge to drive the growing economy and combat climate change, right now.”