Clean Energy report launched

Bega District News
Tuesday 20/3/2007 Page: 2

THE Bega Valley Shire could become a leader in Australia on clean energy action with bright employment and tourism prospects, according to Derek Povel. Mr Povel was one of four speakers at the meeting at the Bega RSL Club on Thursday night to present the Clean Energy Action Plan for achieving 50/50 by 2020 in the shire which was prepared by the Clean Energy Working Group.

He said a small Austrian town of Guessing, with a population of 4,000, was an exciting example for the Bega Valley Shire. In 1989 Guessing began its bid to be the renewable energy capital of the European Union, hosting a series of renewable energy pilot projects.

Today, it is home to the European Centre of Renewable Energy and several major EU and nationally-funded research projects on energy conservation and renewable energy. Its objective is to become a model region that is self-sufficient in terms of heat, electricity and fuel supply and it is half-way there. Mr Poval said there had been 1,000 new jobs created in Guessing in 15 years.

The mayor of the Bega Valley Shire, Cr Tony Allen, chaired the meeting and speakers where Philippa Rowland, Bill Caldicott, Matthew Nott and Mr Povel. The working party report states that the goal is for all electrical power used in the Bega Valley Shire to be greenhouse gas neutral.

"There is no simple single solution to climate change. "Luckily there is a range of renewable technologies that can contribute rapidly to reducing our global greenhouse emissions. "It is predicted that in time solar power will be cheaper than coal power." The working party report says there is a need to take a long-term decision to invest in local generation and start the process to find a way to make that happen.

"The Bega Valley Shire already has an existing renewable energy industry. "Aside from the Eraring Hydro station, a series of businesses provide renewable energy installations, both stand-alone and grid interactive. "The renewable energy sector can incorporate a wide range of enterprises, from energy auditors through to providers of insulation, double-glazing, energy efficient building products, green design, etc.

"Opportunities exist for this industry to collectively or individually market themselves and firmly increase the status of their products or services to a higher end." The speakers encouraged political action to assist in the move towards a more sustainable future and clean energy. They said the most important thing is to be informed and to start acting now.

"The challenge of facing the future and working towards the best outcomes is energising and engaging. "You won't be bored and you won't be lonely, there are many people already doing what they can to turn the situation around, so join in and think creatively. "One of the major problems is the lack of leadership by our governments making it much harder for individuals to have an effect.

"Tim Flannery wrote that he would never cast a vote without first talking to the politician to find out what they think, what they are doing in their personal life and what their party policy is on climate change." The report exhorts people to put pressure on politicians, local, State and Federal, to take the lead with good policies.

For more information or to obtain copies of the action plan, write to:
Clean Energy for Eternity Working Group, c/- PO Box 874, Bega, 2550,
email admin@cleanenergyforeternity.net.au or
visit the website cleanenergyforetemity.net.au

Clean Energy for Eternity also held a very successful screening of Al Gore's film `An Inconvenient Truth' on Saturday night.