Wind and solar have ushered in "a construction-jobs-and-investment boom”, says a new report. What could possibly stall such ground-breaking progress?

"Renewables are the future," said TEC director Jeff Angel today. "Government needs to do all it can to foster maximum growth if it wants to respond to the direction the electorate is already taking."

Today The Guardian reported that renewables accounted for 17.2% of national electricity output last financial year. This jumped to 18.8% last month. It made up just 7% a decade ago.

Green Energy Markets analyst Tristan Edis said “the renewable energy sector has staged a remarkable recovery, after investment completely dried-up under former prime minister Tony Abbott”. 

Edis said investors had “recovered their confidence under Malcolm Turnbull”, with help also from “a range of state government initiatives”. The sector will generate enough power to run 90% of homes once wind and solar projects under construction in 2016-17 are complete. 

"Clearly the Turnbull government is experiencing internal inconsistencies," said Jeff Angel, "which nullify its capacity to promote the best business models and give Australians the vision we need for a viable 21st century energy system.

"If the clean energy target ends up a dog's breakfast by including polluting power, then this government will be condemned by history as a barrier to Australia's clean green future. The political blinkers must come off!"

The Financial Review suggested that Australia "desperately needs a nationally consistent energy and climate change policy, with bipartisan support. Sadly, politics and ideology are delivering precisely the opposite, and the result is high prices, unreliable supply and rising greenhouse gas emissions."

What can't be reversed is the dramatic shift in public sentiment towards green energy. GetUp! environmental justice campaign director Miriam Lyons said the new data showed the renewable energy industry was now a "major player".

"It reveals [ that] public support for renewables has been resilient in the face of many political attacks," she said.

The Green Energy Markets index, to be updated monthly, will track the renewable energy Australia produces, jobs created, pollution reduced and savings on power bills from rooftop solar.

What Can You Do?

• Become informed. Read TEC's submission to the Finkel Energy Review
• Get Smart. Consume wisely! Visit our Green Electricity Guide
• Support our Green Energy campaign