Dinosaurs Set Government Energy Policy
Friday 26 April 2013
Greens WA spokesperson on Energy and Climate Change issues, Robin Chapple MLC, today blasted the Premier’s free-market warhorse, Hon Mike Nahan, as he stumbled into energy policy with a classic throwback to dinosaur-age thinking on energy policy.
“Let’s not mince words – we all know what Minister Nahan really wants - an end to the Renewable Energy Target (RET), so his mates in the dirty fossil-fuel burning power generation sector can carry on churning out greenhouse gas emissions at a rate which has WA right up there in the top echelon of global polluters,” Mr Chapple said.
“Mr Nahan’s call for ‘root and branch review’ of WA’s RET commitments is music to the ears of his Premier, who has long called for targets to be axed.
“Now is the time that we need strong government policy to set the framework for the transition to renewable power, so the sector can deliver it, but all we get from this government is ad-hoc, piecemeal tinkering.
“Criticism that spending on renewables is pushing up prices is a cheap shot. The major increase in household power prices is to help fund the maintenance of our aging electricity infrastructure, and to meet the very high peak demand times.
“We have vast renewable resources in this state but are forced to accept old technology for the sake of fossil fuel contracts that this dinosaur Government is locked into,” said Mr Chapple.
“Of course this government can make renewable energy look uneconomic – by continuing to spend millions in taxpayer-funded subsidies to prop up our coal-fired clunkers.
“Get your heads out of the sand – follow our lead to a sustainable, pollution-free energy future, as detailed in our Energy2029 policy.
“Renewables can be economic – but only when we move away from the status quo of fossil-fuelled mega power stations.
Energy 2029 plan: http://www.greenswa.net.au/energy2029
