"The Abbott government should now end the sham Review of the Renewable Energy Target and simply allow the existing Renewable Energy Target to do its job," said John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Australian Solar Council, the peak body for Australia's solar industry.
"The Renewable Energy Target has been an incredible success, helping five million Australians reduce their power bills by installing solar panels and solar hot water systems.
"More than 14 per cent of Australia's electricity now comes from solar and other renewable energy sources.
"The Australian Solar Council congratulates Vice-President Gore on his extraordinary global leadership on climate change, his ongoing commitment to solar and renewable energy, and his support for the Renewable Energy Target, Clean Energy Finance Corporation and Climate Change Authority.
"We are also hopeful the Palmer United Party will oppose the abolition of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) when it comes to the Senate."
Keep renewable target in place for it to "fully deliver"
Likewise the REC Agents Association (RAA), a national industry body for companies trading in renewable energy certificates, described PUP's move as "great news" for both SMEs and workers in the local solar industry.
"The Renewable Energy Target has created a strong industry, generating tens of billions of dollars of investment and helping five million Australians reduce their power bills at zero cost to the Budget," RAA Vice-President Fiona O'Hehir said.
"The renewables target must be maintained and left to fully deliver on its potential."
In a statement on Thursday (26 June), RAA said economic modelling by ACIL Allen and others shows that over time the Renewable Energy Target will cut the power bills of all Australians.
RAA said it hoped with Palmer's announcement billions of dollars of investment would again be poured into household solar and large-scale renewable energy.
