Australian Greens Senator for South Australia Penny Wright says the Renewable Energy Target legislation that passed the Senate last night will hit South Australia hardest.

"South Australia is the biggest loser out of Labor and Liberal's dirty deal to cut the Renewable Energy Target.

"We have the highest percentage of homes with solar panels, the most energy sourced from renewables and the most investment now at risk.

"Not only do we lose the opportunity for more clean energy, but we lose the jobs and investment that spin off from renewable energy.

Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson says that Tasmania will now lose three times over because of the passage of the Liberal’s legislation to gut the Renewable Energy Target (RET).

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “The Liberals have done a deal to cut the overall Renewable Energy Target. They have also done side-deals with the cross-bench to include the burning of native forest biomass within the target and to place ridiculous restrictions on the development of wind energy.

The Liberal and Labor parties have ganged up to gut the Renewable Energy Target and allow native forest burning under that target in the Senate tonight.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said the government had also done a deal with the anti-wind crossbenchers to attack the wind industry.

"Ganging up with Labor to slash the Renewable Energy Target and allow it to burn native forests just wasn't enough for Tony Abbott.

I move that the Senate:

1.       commiserates with the 440 workers who will lose their jobs at the Leigh Creek coal mine and Port Augusta coal-fired power stations, which are flagged for closure by 2018;

2.       recognises the outstanding leadership of the Repower Port Augusta Alliance and the Port Augusta City Council in working with the community to advocate for solar thermal to replace the outdated coal power stations;

The Australian Greens have called for government investment to kick-start a solar thermal plant at Port Augusta to replace the two power stations slated for closure.

Australian Greens Senator for South Australia Senator Penny Wright said jobs in the renewable energy sector could replace those expected to be lost in Port Augusta.

"Although the closure of the power stations was inevitable, it will hit the community very hard. This just makes it even clearer that the future has to be renewable," Senator Wright said.

The Australian Greens are calling on Labor to abandon its deal to cut the Renewable Energy Target, which was introduced to parliament today and allows for the burning of native forests.

"This is Bill Shorten's first big test on the environment, and it's time to walk away from this deal. Burning native trees is not renewable energy," said Greens Leader Richard Di Natale.

"This deal is bad for the climate, bad for jobs, and a disaster for the environment.

"Is Labor really going to help the government commit this environmental and economic vandalism?"