Climate change
By Save Eumundi Team • Jan 1st, 2008 • Category: Background, Viable AlternativesThe business-as-usual approach to power supply is no longer sustainable. The vast majority of the electricity supply in Queensland is provided by coal-fired power stations. Coal is one of the worst greenhouse gas creating fuels, contributing hugely to climate change. The last projections prepared by the Australian Greenhouse Office [note 1] show energy generation emissions account for more than 50% of all Australian emissions, estimated to be 306m t Co2-e [note 2] by 2010. This was projected to grow to 361m t Co2-e by 2020 based upon policies implemented in 2006.
The development of the Powerlink proposal connecting the Sunshine Coast to the Central Queensland coal fired power stations provides the minimum potential to quintuple electricity consumption in the Sunshine Coast area. Powerlink’s own figures are for a 30% increase in electricity demand over the next seven years, and up to 100% in the next 20 years. Using Powerlink’s own demand forecasts it is estimated that by 2020 they will be facilitating the increase in annual greenhouse gas emissions of more than 400,000 t Co2-e in the Sunshine Coast area alone, an estimated 59% increase on 2008 levels.
“Considering the urgent recommendation of several agencies of the United Nations that nations must take immediate action to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, it is negligent to assume that the current methods of power generation and distribution will be environmentally and economically viable in as little as ten to fifteen years time.” [note 3]
Save Eumundi Team is a group of people who are keen to see our environment protected and insisting that the Queensland State Government and its agencies (like Powerlink) consider viable alternatives rather than the business as usual approach to electricity generation and transmission.
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