Energy bills to surge with green power

The switch to “clean green” energy sources will cost households up to 40 per cent more on their power bill, Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane has said.Mr Macfarlane said it was inevitable there would be “big jumps” in power bills, but said most people were unaware of the looming increases.

“I don’t think the consumers fully understand the price tag associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions,” he told The Courier-Mail in an exclusive interview.

He believes it is time for a detailed debate about the impact of cutting emissions and is highly critical of those who promote wind and solar power as a potential solution to future energy needs. He said solar power was four to five times more expensive than electricity from coal and that wind power was twice as expensive – even though it was heavily subsidised.“While the energy source is free, converting that to electricity is expensive,” he said of wind and solar power.

By Clinton Porteous

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