NSW falls behind in renewable energy

Goulburn Town & Country
Monday 30/10/2006, Page: 10

STATE and national environment groups have launched a campaign for NSW to join other states and nations in developing a strong renewable energy industry to combat climate change.

The groups has released a report titled `The Great Opportunity: 25 per cent renewable energy for NSW', which outlined that a 25 per cent renewable energy target for NSW would conservatively deliver 4000 new permanent jobs, $9 billion investment in NSW and 4000 MW new electricity generation capacity equivalent to two coal-fired power stations.

It would also lead to a 13 per cent reduction in electricity sector greenhouse emissions on current levels by 2020 and enough renewable electricity to power every household in NSW The report was released at the Earthpower Technologies bioenergy plant in Western Sydney, where food waste is turned into electricity.

At the launch Nature Conservation Council Director Cate Faehrmann said Australia had woken up to climate change in recent months.

"It's important that now we start implementing some big solutions," she said.

"A 25 per cent renewable energy target for NSW would see thousands of jobs created, billions of dollars worth of investment and a reduction in NSW's greenhouse pollution. All we need is the political will to make it happen." Greenpeace Energy campaigner Mark Wakeham said NSW was being left behind in the race for renewable energy.

"Since 2001, South Australia had installed 215 wind turbines while NSW had installed two," he said.

"In NSW there is no incentive in place to develop new renewable energy projects. Victoria and South Australia have seen the benefits of renewables and legislated their own state targets.

"Now its time that Premier lemma gets serious about climate change and follows suit with a target to guarantee the growth of renewable energy in NSW. A 25 per cent target would generate enough clean energy to power every house in NSW." Ms Faehrmann added that the introduction of a renewable energy target would be an important issue in the lead up to the March state election.

"Climate change is the number one environmental issue for the state election, and if we're going to address climate change we need targets to reduce greenhouse pollution, targets to kick-start renewable energy and a commitment to begin the shift away from polluting coal," she said.

The report can be downloaded from http://www.nccnsw.org.au/