Wind farm sale to aid climate change coffers

Cairns Post
Tuesday 26/6/2007 Page: 4

THE State Government will sell its Windy Hill Wind Farm near Ravenshoe by the end of the year and channel the money into fighting climate change. The wind farm is one of Queensland's largest, with 20 wind turbines generating 12 megawatts of green electricity a year, enough to power 3500 homes and displace 25,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas. The plan to sell the farm, built by state owned corporation Stanwell in 2000, is part of the Government's $414 million climate change strategy ClimateSmart 2050, unveiled earlier this month. Proceeds from the sale of the Ravenshoe farm and four others in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, will go into a $300 million Queensland Climate Change Fund to develop new technologies such as hydrogen fuel-cells.

The Government will also sell off the remaining gas assets of the Enertrade business but a spokesman yesterday ruled out speculation that other assets, including the Barron Gorge and Kareeya (at Tully Falls) hydro-electric power stations, would also be put on the market. The cash generated by the sales will bring Queensland's contribution to the fight against climate change to $1.3 billion - $414 million in new money plus $300 million already committed by the state and $600 million committed by the coal industry to the Clean Coal Fund.

"Every one of us is being affected by climate change but the good news is that every one of us can also be part of the solution," Premier Peter Beattie said. "If the Queensland Government did not take action on greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector, Queensland would be emitting 63.7 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere by 2020. "By implementing this plan we project we can reduce emissions by about 34 per cent to 50.9 million tonnes by 2020." The strategy also includes $7.25 million to help people living in remote areas install greenhouse- friendly hot water systems, more efficient refrigeration and insulation.

The strategy can be read at www.thepremier.gld.gov.au/climatechange