Critics of renewables and boosters of fossil fuel electricity generation, all the way up to the Prime Minister, were quick to seize on the power failure as evidence of SA's "over-reliance" on renewable energy.

But as the pieces were picked up, it became clear that it was storm damage to the state's electricity infrastructure, and not its 40 per cent renewable energy mix, that knocked South Australia's lights out.

But by the time the misinformation had been unpicked, it was too late.

Much of the media, having given considerable coverage to the initial "blame renewables" claims had moved on, leaving the casual observer with the unfortunate impression that clean generation technology cannot provide a reliable electricity supply.

But despite the damage done in the court of public opinion, the week's events raise hopes for a facts-led debate about Australia's energy future.

The resistance to renewals in Australia, as in many resource-dependent economies, is entrenched, well-financed and organised and seems to have an irresistible appeal to the populist instincts of conservative politicians.

Former Treasurer Joe Hockey's comments about Lake George's wind turbines outside Canberra – that they were "utterly offensive" – were as baffling as they were unhelpful but will be nonetheless long-remembered by wind power's friends and foes alike.

Now Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, struggling in the polls and leading a government widely derided as lacking in direction, seems intent on escalating a fight with Labor states over their push towards a clean energy future.

Mr Turnbull, who once vowed he would not lead a party that was not committed to strong action on climate change, described the states' policies as "extremely aggressive, extremely unrealistic, and have paid little or no attention to energy security."

The Prime Minister's comments, while not strictly contradictory with his pre-2009 positions, are certainly not in the spirit of those convictions and were music to the ears of the powerful fossil fuel lobby while causing dismay among renewables proponents and climate scientists.

It is against this backdrop that the ACT government goes to an election in less than three weeks with a policy of 100 per cent reliance for the territory on renewable energy by 2020.

With its funding for three solar farms, two wind farms potentially in the works and contracts to buy wind-generated energy from South Australia, Victoria and NSW the ACT looks to be one of the jurisdictions in the sights of the Prime Minister.

Territory energy Minister Simon Corbell showed every sign of being up for the fight this week, saying the attacks on renewables in the wake of the South Australian storm were "extraordinarily reckless and wrong."

Fighting words indeed, but with a closely fought election almost upon it, Andrew Barr's government might do well to direct its energies closer to home.

ACT Labor has faced persistent criticism that it has been too willing, in part to satisfy the demands of the Greens, to put lofty environmental priorities above the practical and financial realities faced by ACT residents.

Andrew Barr's government, if re-elected, faces a renewables challenge on two fronts; the difficult task of fulfilling its clean energy pledges themselves and the challenge of maintaining community confidence in the ability of clean energy to provide reliable and affordable electricity.

If re-elected.