Sun and wind blow coaldust out of town

Sun Herald
Sunday 29/4/2007 Page: 7

BUSINESSES and residents in Scone hope a $45 million energy project planned for the Upper Hunter town will protect them from coalmining. Proponents of the Kyoto Energy Park say it will combine environmentally sustainable technologies to generate renewable energy for Scone and surrounding areas. The park will consist of up to 47 wind turbines and an experimental solar thermal system using a closed-loop hydroelectric generator, a scheme that uses elevation of natural water instead of catchment drops.

Scone Chamber of Business president Michael Johnsen said the park could protect the town from the threat of mining. "It's going to go a long way towards keeping coalmines off our doorsteps by creating a buffer on our west side that the mines can't encroach on," Mr Johnsen said. "It's going to help Scone maintain a generally green and clean image, and also for the surrounding areas. It should be a great tourist attraction for people to stop and have a look."

Kyoto project director Mark Sydney said the Scone community was excited by the proposal. "This is the Hunter Valley's chance to establish a symbol of their environmental values," Mr Sydney said. "I'm yet to meet someone who is against the idea. "We're providing the Upper Hunter with the opportunity to harness their unique geographical circumstances and do something positive in their backyard."

The park could produce "a significant power generation" of 200 megawatts "to support and supplement other energy". Mr Johnsen said the town's support would prove significant in the approval process, lodged under state significant planning provisions. "I think 97 per cent of the community think it's a great idea," Mr Johnsen said. "I live near where it's going to be built and I'm not concerned about the wind turbines because I think, would I rather look at this or a mine site? "The town is generally excited to be a part of it," he said.

Mr Sydney hopes the park will be one of many alternative energy projects in NSW as part of a more widespread cultural shift towards a clean energy future. "There's been a lot of positive progress towards renewable projects in the past six months," he said. "Overall the world is moving to embrace projects like this and it's a fabulous opportunity to have this in Scone?'

Kyoto Energy Park

• The proposed park will have up to 47 turbines.
• Australia's 27 wind farms contribute about 1 percent to our total electricity production.
• The largest operations are in South Australia (Wattle Point, Lake Bonney, Cathedral Rocks) and Western Australia (Alinta, Emu Downs).
• Wind power accounts for 20 per cent of electricity use in Denmark.