[Peakoil] NSW told to slash emissions
Alex P
alex-po at trevbus.org
Tue Mar 29 12:36:52 EST 2005
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Slash-gas-emissions-by-60-state-
told/2005/03/28/1111862325384.html#
Slash gas emissions by 60%, state told
By Anne Davies, State Political Editor
March 29, 2005
The Premier's specialist advisory body on greenhouse gases has recommended
that NSW slash its emissions by 60 per cent by 2050, adopt aggressive
demand management and defer a new coal-fired power station until
technologies advance.
The submission by the Greenhouse Advisory Panel, in response to the NSW
energy green paper, makes it clear that commissioning a coal-fired power
station now - one option in the paper - is incompatible with any meaningful
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in NSW.
Citing CSIRO research on global warming commissioned by the Premier, Bob
Carr, the panel says the time for action - preferably at a national level -
is now if a 2 per cent increase in global temperature is to be avoided.
The 60 per cent reduction is in line with the target adopted by the Blair
Government in Britain.
"It sounds like a large target but it's what the scientific community is
saying is required at the moment if we are to avoid dangerous effects of
greenhouse gases," the panel's chairman, Martijn Wilder, said yesterday.
Instead of new coal-fired power stations, the panel wants comprehensive
demand management to buy time so carbon offset measures and technologies
can advance before new coal-fired power stations are built.
Meanwhile, the head of the NSW Greenhouse Office in the Premier's office,
Alexandra Gordon, has resigned. She was not available for comment and the
reasons for her departure are unclear.
A spokeswoman for Mr Carr said the panel's recommendations would be
considered along with all other submissions.
"In coming months the Government will be releasing an energy plan for NSW
looking at ensuring energy supply for the coming years and our growing
population," she said.
"It is anticipated by the year 2050 there will be new, cleaner technologies
in energy supply," she said.
It is understood that cabinet will soon consider a greenhouse blueprint
which will then be released for comment ahead of the Government's separate
announcement of the electricity plan.
It is expected to include a proposal for a $6 million energy technology
fund to help spur innovation.
But whether the blueprint will blunt the likely outcry over a decision to
build at least one more coal-fired power station - if that is the direction
the State Government takes midyear - remains to be seen.
Of the nearly 400 submissions received by the State Government on its
energy green paper, the overwhelming majority is against the building of
new coal power stations.
Some are clearly part of a letter-writing campaign by green groups, but a
significant number from individuals and companies question why more has not
been done by the state to manage the burgeoning demand for electricity
through the use of smart metering (so people know how much they are
consuming) and through education campaigns.
Several submissions have queried why the paper fails to mention, let alone
discuss, nuclear power.
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