Potential for new jobs

Bendigo Weekly
Friday 16/11/2007 Page: 11

AN expert in economic and social sustainability from the University of New South Wales told a meeting in Bendigo this week renewable energy has "huge" potential to create jobs in central Victoria. Addressing members of the Central Greenhouse Alliance Dr Mark Diesendorf said a combination of wind, bio-electricity, solar and geothermal power, plus energy efficiency measures, could supply 100 per cent of central Victoria's energy needs by 2050.

He said that would bring jobs with it, rejecting the view that any contraction of the coal industry would lead to higher unemployment. "There are more jobs in clean energy because they are smaller scale," he said. "We can manufacture most of the components in Australia, even wind turbine blades. Studies by my university colleagues, based on real data, have shown that there are between two and five more jobs in renewable energy for every one in coal, depending on the Australian content, with most of these jobs in rural areas where they are needed." Dr Diesendorf said each of the renewables would be an employment boon for the region.

"wind energy has huge potential, if you have a number of farms geographically dispersed it is very reliable, and it can be up and running while you are still planning a coal-fired power station," he said. "solar thermal generation is looking very exciting, will be commercially available before clean coal and nuclear, and is much cheaper than coal fired power and provides 24-hour base load power. "geothermal power from hot rocks is very promising and it's a dosed system, where you don't lose all that water that coal fired power stations lose.

"Biomass such as wheat stubble and plantation forest residues could generate large amounts of energy without any additional land taken. We are looking at lots of small power stations dotted around the country where the fuel is free." The meeting heard that science showed global warming was accelerating, energy demand was rising, global oil supplies were peaking and that both oil and electricity prices were going to go much higher. "An ever-increasing demand for energy is impossible in the long term and something has to give," Dr Diesendorf said. "Sustainable energy is the answer, and we could halve our current energy usage without reducing our standard of living.

"It's technically possible, and not that expensive if we combine renewable technology with energy efficiency design and standards for all residential, commercial and industrial buildings, equipment and appliances." Dr Diesendorf said the barriers to change were political, not economic or technical and that strong state and federal government policies were needed immediately to reach key targets of 30 per cent of 1990 emissions by 2020, and 80 per cent by 2050.

"Local action is important, and local governments can lead the state in some areas - for example local transport planning can have a very big impact," he said. "I am delighted to see the CVGA wants to act in the central Victorian region. "But strong state and federal government policies and actions are also needed right now. A strong community movement will help drive these actions."