McKim hopes for wind farm

Hobart Mercury
Wednesday 28/4/2010 Page: 2

NEW Alternative Energy Minister Nick McKim has denied that the $400 million Musselroe wind farm is in jeopardy following the scrapping of the Commonwealth's emissions trading scheme. The Roaring 40s investment is already on hold because of poor incentives from the Federal Government's Renewable Energy Targets scheme. Opposition alternative energy spokesman and former Roaring 40s executive Matthew Groom said the project was hanging in the balance.

"Tasmania's fragile economy cannot afford a $400 million project such as Musselroe wind farm to fall over." Mi Groom said. "I call on the minister, Nick McKim, to tell Tasmanians, particularly those unemployed Tasmanians who stand to get a job from this development, what he intends to do to save this project." Mr McKim said Mr Groom was simply trying to mask Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's climate change denial. "I will continue to support the Musselroe development and advocate for a strong price on carbon which will support all renewable energy in Tasmania." Mr McKim said.

"Rather than playing politics of fear with people's jobs. Mr Groom should spend his time trying to convince his federal leader, climate change denier Tony Abbott, to support strong action on climate change." Meanwhile, Greens senator Christine Milne urged the Federal Government to support the Greens' model of placing a levy on polluters. "The dumping of the CPRS [carbon pollution reduction scheme] is not an excuse for dumping carbon pricing altogether," the Tasmanian senator said. She said the levy proposal could gain cross-party support.