Labor's home batteries policy could help people who will never take it up. Here's how | Adam Morton

The government's promise to slash the cost of household batteries should be welcomed - it could drive a change that benefits everyone who uses the power gridWant to get this in your inbox when it publishes? Sign up for the Clear Air Australia newsletter hereIt's taken years to get here, but Labor's election pledge to make household batteries cheaper is a significant step forward that should cut climate pollution and limit power price rises. While it has been criticised by some as a subsidy for the wealthy, it could drive a change that benefits everyone who uses the power grid, and not just those who can afford to put an energy storage unit in their garage.Labor's promise is that from July it will cut the cost of a typical household battery by about $4,000, or 30%. The discount will be delivered through a long-running small-scale renewable energy scheme that has helped make rooftop solar panels and hot water systems affordable for more people.Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton's Clear Air column as a free newsletterAdam Morton is Guardian Australia's climate and environment editor Continue reading...