Hazelwood Deal a Blow to Community Action on Greenhouse
October 03, 2005
The following media release was distributed in September 2005 in response to the Bracks Government's decision on the Hazelwood Power Station extension.
Australias only independent community based organisation working solely on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the community, today claimed the agreement that has been reached between the Victorian State Government and International Power Australia over the Hazelwood coal fired power stationwas a demoralising backdrop to community based greenhouse action in Moreland.
The Moreland Energy Foundation ( MEFL ) Chief Executive Officer Mr Jim Downey said There is some wonderful work going on in the community at a local level by all sorts of people in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes action on sustainable transport, energy efficiency and installation of renewable energy sources.
In one stroke of the pen, the deal on Hazelwood has wiped out a lot of this hard work. It is a demoralising backdrop to community based action on greenhouse.
Mr Downey added The decision also sends very confusing signals about where the Government is going on sustainability and energy issues. On the one hand we have some great initiatives such as the establishment of the new agency Sustainability Victoria, the Governments sustainability education strategy Learning to Live Sustainably , the development of a sustainability accord between the State and Local Government and the recently announced Parliamentary inquiry into the energy services industry due to report during 2006.
These are all terrific programs by the State Government. The decision on Hazelwood is totally inconsistent with these efforts just as it is inconsistent with the work being undertaken by ordinary householders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
We are working extremely hard with householders, businesses and community facilities such as schools to reduce their impact on the planet through climate change. This involves incremental but important steps in
the community effort to reduce our greenhouse pollution.
The average Victorian house produces about 10,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum. Many people are putting in a terrific effort to cut this by 20 - 30% or 2000 3000 tonnes per annum and much of this valuable work is being very well supported by State Government programs. When we consider the extension to Hazelwood will add another many millions of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, the comparisons become very disappointing reading.
We are urging the citizens of Moreland to become even more determined to do their bit to reduce their individual greenhouse emissions, said Mr Downey.
Contact Moreland Energy Foundation CEO Jim Downey on either ( 03 ) 9381 1722 or 0414 547 217
