Advocacy

MEFL responds to relevant inquiries and consultation processes and also does more proactive research and advocacy. The most recent advocacy projects are:

Garnaut Review Submission
The Garnaut Climate Change review has been commissioned by Australia's Federal, State and Territory Governments to examine the impacts and opportunities of climate change on the Australian economy.

Interested organisations and individuals were invited to make a submission to the Review by Friday 11 April 2008.

To download NAGA's (The Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action) submission see below.

Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) Scheme
In 2007 The Victorian Government asked for submissions on its Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) Scheme.

The VEET scheme will be a market based scheme aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy conservation for the residential sector. The aim of the scheme is to contribute to the fulfillment of the ALP's 2006 election promise to reduce electricity use in the residential sector by 10%.
It will be similar to the VRET scheme introduced by the Government to increase renewable energy. The scheme will place an obligation on energy retailers to meet specific energy conservation targets. Energy retailers will be required to help households cut their power bills through such measures as the provision of energy efficiency appliances and products for little or no additional cost.

Download MEFL's submission below.

5 Star Homes Consumer Research
MEFL was part of a consortium undertaking research for Sustainability Victoria on the 5 star standard for new Victorian homes.

While building envelope design has a significant impact on the energy performance of a building, the overall energy performance is also determined by the appliances and fitting installed and occupant use.

The research conducted a survey of a representative sample of recently completed new 5 Star homes to determine the type and sustainability level of the features, appliances and lighting installed. The project will inform future Government policy on housing appliances and fittings.

Solar Feed in Tariff

The Alternative Technology Association, Environment Victoria and Moreland Energy Foundation have been working together to support the introduction of an effective feed-in tariff in Victoria. The groups have jointly submitted two papers in relation to the proposed Victorian solar feed in tariff and held a public forum in March to discuss the best model for Victoria.

The Forum summary paper provides our case for a feed in tariff for solar and the suggested design of a Victorian tariff.

Solar PV micro-generation is disadvantaged in Australia through market failure which fails to take into account the true value and many benefits to the electricity network which arise from the adoption of renewable energy technologies embedded within the electricity grid.

The Alternative Technology Association, Environment Victoria and Moreland Energy Foundation believe that the introduction of a mandated feed-in tariff for the production and supply of electricity from solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is the most appropriate mechanism for valuing the full benefit of small-scale embedded solar PV systems to the electricity market. Download the submissions and Forum overview below.


Letter to State Premiers
MEFL wrote a letter to all State Premiers in every state urging their Government to support the implementation of a national greenhouse reporting scheme using the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) with a commencement date from 1 July 2007.

The 2000 review of the NPI by Professor Ian Rae recommended that industrial sources of the six major greenhouse gases be added to the NPI reporting list. Seven years later there has been no further progress. Findings of the recent Greenhouse Gas NPI pilot held in Victoria strongly concluded that the NPI is a suitable mechanism for reporting and disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and that the six greenhouse gases could easily be added to the substances already reported under the NPI.

A national reporting scheme is a vital precursor to a national emissions trading scheme and MEFL has urged the Premier to support the use of the NPI as a mechanism to implement a greenhouse gas reporting scheme.

Download document

• Feed in Tariff- Design Position Paper
  
• National Pollutant Inventory review report - MEFL's submission
  
• The Case for Feed-in Tariff
  
• Delay in National Greenhouse Gas Reporting is Absurd
  
• MEFL's Submission to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper
  
• NAGA's Submission to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper
  
• Moreland Energy Foundation VEET Submission
  
• Feed in Tariff Forum
  
• NAGA Garnaut Review Submission
  
• Feed in Tariffs in Australia by Brad Shone, ATA
  
• Why should a feed in tariff be gross generation and not net
  
• NAGA's submission to the Victorian Climate Change Summit