His accuser was Queensland Energy Minister Anthony Lyneham, so there was an element of politics in the claim and response. But Dr Lyneham isn't the only critic of Coalition Governments, at national level, and their inability to commit to a comprehensive energy and climate change plan.

The Business Council of Australia has long called for a national plan to reduce carbon emissions and manage the transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewables.

But such a plan would require a "price signal" that places "a value on lower-emissions, more efficient technology and encourages innovation to drive this technological shift", said the Business Council.

A price on carbon, in other words.

Last week the Energy Security Board, which is headed by Kerry Schott and includes the Australian Energy Market Operator, the Australian Energy Market Commission and the Australian Energy Regulator, quietly released a call for submissions as part of a plan to redesign and write new rules for Australia's National Energy Market.

The move is significant because the existing market has operated for two decades with rules to accommodate coal and gas-fired electricity production.

Another major issue is that rather than having an integrated "national" electricity grid, it's more accurate to say Australia has five linked state grids, a large but isolated grid in Western Australia, and smaller grids in remote areas. The big rise in renewable energy requires urgent integration of that "national" grid, storage and demand management.

There is a lot of work to be done.

But despite the lack of a national energy policy, business is pushing ahead because it can see the future and the economics of renewables.

A landmark sustainable power purchase agreement between Molycop, which incorporates Waratah firm Comsteel, and an energy retailer sourcing power from two regional NSW windfarms, is just the latest signal that big electricity users are not afraid to negotiate deals that support renewable energy and make good economic and environmental sense.

For companies like Molycop the "social licence" as "a responsible and sustainable organisation" matters.

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