In case recent events had left any misapprehension, Environment Minister Greg Hunt thought it necessary to declare on Monday: "I love renewable energy."

But since the Abbott government came to power, it has demonstrated little adoration for the sector.

It scrapped the Climate Commission, which gave independent advice on global warming solutions, and slashed the budget of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, which it wants to abolish.

It reduced the renewable energy target and vowed to appoint a commissioner to investigate complaints about wind turbines.

And after unsuccessfully trying to axe the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, it has instead attempted to deal the organisation a major blow, moving to prohibit its investment in wind and small-scale solar.

Critics say the government is on a deliberate course to nobble the renewable energy industry and prevent real climate action.

Mr Hunt says the government is putting the CEFC back on track, towards its "original mandate" to support emerging technology and innovation.

But the corporation's architect, former Labor MP Greg Combet, has dismissed that justification, saying the laws were never "technology-specific".

The proposed blanket ban on wind investment leaves no room for emerging wind technology such as more efficient turbine design or offshore projects, nor for innovative financing and delivery arrangements.

The corporation is led by a board with substantial banking, finance and energy industry experience, and the law indicates its specific investment decisions should be quarantined from political influence.

This will be tested as the corporation seeks legal advice.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has accused Prime Minister Tony Abbott of an "extreme political ideology against wind farms".

Some in the government oppose public investment in renewable energy as unnecessarily propping up the industry, or they genuinely worry about the impact on power prices.

But suspicion persists that dogma, political cynicism and in extreme cases, outright climate change denialism, is dictating the government's renewable energy stance.

Even investment analysts, such as head of Australia at Bloomberg New Energy Finance Kobad Bhavnagri, fear the government's policy is "ideologically driven".

"Investors we talk to are perplexed at the direction of the Australian government in stalling investment in the infrastructure of the 21st century," he said.

"There is no sound economic base for the majority of their decisions."

Whatever the motivations, Bhavnagri says the government is sending a clear, alarming message to local and international investors: "This is not the best place for you to invest your time and money."

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