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PAGE has asked the Bligh Government for “a clear statement that the Sunshine Coast’s future energy needs be delivered via renewable energy and demand management providing the Bligh Government with a clear opportunity to show it is serious in tackling energy provision in an environmentally responsible manner – the last week of this election gives the Government the perfect opportunity to do this.”

The following letters outline and show what the Bligh government’s actual response is to alternative energies that have been proposed by the community group PAGE.

Ever since the CEO of Powerlink wrote to Mr. Geoff Wilson, Minister for Mines and Energy suggesting that PAGE were “deceitful and dishonest”, PAGE have had disappointment after disappointment in their dealings with the Minister. After 6 months of waiting (initial request 20 February 2008) the Minister finally afforded PAGE a meeting, at which PAGE were told to come up with an alternative within only 4 weeks. With all the resources at the DME and Powerlink’s disposal, it was left for the small community group to come up with a proposal. This proposal was submitted but the response received (below) does little to inspire confidence that the Minister and his department are interested in delivering an alternative solution.

It is also disappointing to see the ALP campaign rhetoric once again referring to Queensland as aspiring to be “the solar state” of Australia, and we continue to see little willingness to progress towards becoming a solar state, when we have a solar option on the table that could be further developed to meet their criteria.

PAGE has been asking the government to look at alternatives to Powerlink business as usual proposal since August 2007 – 18 months later they are still dragging their heels when they have an active and engaged community wishing to help find solutions to the energy requirements of the Sunshine Coast, and where the Sunshine Coast Regional Council have a mandate for cleaner greener alternatives.

Queensland despite the rhetoric lags well behind other countries and is a long way behind New South Wales in implementing clean energy alternatives and feed-in tariffs. (http://www.saveeumundi.org/2009/03/doing-green-business-in-nsw/)

Letter 1: PAGE letter (9 December 2008)

Letter 2: Department of Mines and Energy reply to PAGE’s 8 December letter (19 February 2009)

Letter 3: PAGE’s reply to DME (16 March 2009)

Letter 3: PAGE’s reply to DME (16 March 2009)

Your Ref: ME/08/2972, MC2046
Our Ref: February 19, 2009

Honorable Geoff Wilson MP
Minister for Mines & Energy
Level 17
61 Mary St
Brisbane QLD 4000
March 16, 2009

Dear Mr. Wilson,

RE: Sunshine Coast Energy Alternatives

Thank you for your reply, 19th February 2009, to our letter of 10th December 2008, in which we attached one feasible alternative to Powerlink’s transmission and substation proposal, as requested by the Minister in our August meeting.

However, your department’s reply contains several disappointing references which are of concern to PAGE  and the community as they appear to indicate and confirm community opinion that Powerlink controls the Department’s viewpoint and hence Government action on energy development in Queensland.

Q2 Targets and Powerlink’s Solution

Clearly, this Powerlink proposal is ignoring recent statements by both yourself and Ms. Bligh who are publicly seeking, correctly, to address and give direction to greener, sustainable energy generation to reduce Queensland’s carbon emissions. .

The Bligh Government’s goal of a 33% reduction in Queenslanders’ carbon footprint, by 2020, which is to be achieved by “reduced car and ‘electricity’ use” {Toward Q2}, will not be possible without changing the present reliance on coal fired generation and transmission. It appears that the Bligh government’s plan relies primarily on the success of this one technology. Can you detail the specific plans and projects that will deliver on this Q2 goal, bearing in mind that the Powerlink project will be facilitating an estimated additional 400,000 t CO2-e by 2020?

As you, Minister, have said “we cannot keep on as business as usual”. This however is precisely what the Powerlink project is proposing the Bligh Government does. Leaving your Government saying one thing and Powerlink doing another.

The Alternatives

The Sanctuary Energy proposal is an opportunity for the Bligh government to ensure that innovative proposals continue to be advanced and developed. The tone and content of your Department’s response appears to PAGE to be condescending, arrogant and dismissive. Minister, if you genuinely wish the community to be involved in a constructive capacity in delivering a better Queensland your Department’s response does nothing to move the process forward in achieving your stated aims or the community goals in this matter.

Improving energy management strategies and using the rapidly advancing technology of sources such as household PV and solar thermal generation are amongst the 21st Century solutions to responsibly match energy needs with environmental issues. Powerlink’s bulldozing through the Noosa Biosphere will result in the destruction of important natural wildlife and flora habitat, including prime koala habitat. It will also destroy the visual amenity of one of the Sunshine Coast’s tourist destinations, with resultant economic loss to the Sunshine Coast already under severe stress from the current economic crisis.

Leadership and Vision

Even more reprehensible on the Bligh government’s part, should they proceed with this project, will be their missed opportunity to provide clear leadership towards a cleaner, greener Queensland. To build this line on the new easement proposed, condemns the Sunshine Coast to “black power” [e.g. coal fired] usage for the next 30 years and undermines the Sunshine Coast Regional Council’s aim of being the most sustainable region in Australia.

To plan for more than 30 years hence with coal fired dependency is ecologically, economically and socially irresponsible given the major uncertainty in the energy sector – it is more prudent to develop in a staged manner, matching supply with proven demand, as it arises.

PAGE expects the Minister to provide leadership in setting energy policy and to follow this through with actions on the ground to back up the current rhetoric.

Response Timeframes

PAGE notes Mr Crowther’s drawing our attention to the extra time taken for the submission of a clean green alternative proposal from the community.  Indeed a four week period was nominated at our August 26, 2008 meeting with the Minister. While the Sanctuary Energy proposal had progressed well by that date, we believe that the brief extra time has provided the Minister with a reliable and credible proposal now.

Comparing the time that Powerlink claim they have been planning this upgrade (since the 1970’s), the resources available to the Minister and Powerlink and the resultant business as usual solution proposed, that lacks innovation, ignores climate change imperatives, has not seriously considered alternatives and delivers a solution which does not meet community expectations, PAGE believes that the Ministers repeated references to a four week deadline does your Department and you no credit and suggests a lack of genuine interest in receiving credible alternatives.

Action Now

As a community group, we are pleased to assist the Minister and his Department in showing Powerlink that 21st century solutions can be designed. We expect the Minister to ensure that this proposal is not summarily discarded. As your Department has said, refinements and development will be ongoing. Confirmation that the Minister is indeed serious about delivering cleantech solutions would be welcome.

Indeed a clear statement that the Sunshine Coasts’ future energy needs be delivered via renewable energy and demand management provide the Bligh Government with a clear opportunity to show it is serious in tackling energy provision in an environmentally responsible manner – the last week of this election gives the Government the perfect opportunity to do this.

Has the Minister demanded that Powerlink seek other local clean energy proposals to seriously compare them against their preferred solution? Is this the reason that the EIS has been delayed by many months, despite the significant resources available to them?

Examination of previous projects appears to indicate that Powerlink usually leave this too late into the process for possible proponents to respond with credible alternatives.

Powerlink and the community

We are also concerned that your department seems to be content to allow Powerlink to control the agenda under the guise: “we need infrastructure”, to the extent that rights and expectations to have fair consultation and involvement of the community impacted by these decisions are disregarded by Powerlink. We continue to maintain that Powerlink’s consultation process is a farce. We are still waiting for a response to our briefing note provided to the Minister in August 2008 regarding the consultation process and the approach that Powerlink have had towards this community from the CEO down to the consultants on the ground.

We look forward to your prompt response and can only hope that as timeliness appears to be important to you and your department that a response is provided more quickly than has occurred in the past.

Yours sincerely,

Graham Smith,
Coordinator,
P.A.G.E.

CC:    Hon Peter Wellington MP
Mr. Cameron Crowther, Dept. of Mines and Energy

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Letter 2: Mines and Energy reply to PAGE’s 10 December letter (19 February 2009)

Queensland Government
Office of Minister for Mines and Energy

19 February 2009

Mr Graham Smith
Coordinator
Powerlines Action Group Eumundi Inc.
PO Box 950
COOROY QLD 4563

Dear Mr Smith

I refer to your letter of 12 December 2008 and the accompanying Report by Sanctuary Energy addressed to the Honourable Geoff Wilson MP, Minister for Mines and Energy concerning Powerlink Queensland’s proposed Woolooga to Cooroy South transmission line. The Minister has asked me to respond on his behalf.

In September 2008, the Honourable Anna Bligh MP, Premier of Queensland outlined her Government’s long-term vision for Queensland in Toward Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland. Q2 creates bold targets that will drive Premier Bligh’s vision for a strong, green, smart, healthy and fair Queensland.

The Bligh Government welcomes your thoughts and ideas on how Queensland should head Toward Q2. For more Information on Q2, please visit www.towardq2.qld.gov.au.

At the 26 August 2008 meeting regarding potential alternatives to the proposed Woolooga to Cooroy South transmission line, I note that the Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE) advised the Minister it would formulate a commercially-viable, non-networked alternative to the proposed new Woolooga to Cooroy power line project in line with the requirements outlined in the Department of Mines and Energy’s technical information paper. It was also agreed that a draft proposal would be provided within  four weeks This information was received on 12 December 2008.

The Queensland Government has a strong commitment to ensuring the reliability, affordability and security of electricity supplies to the region are maintained. To this end, it is important that any proposal meet the longer term energy needs of the region. In particular, the technical information paper provided to PAGE advised that the proposed alternative solution would need to start in the summer of 2014 -15, and progressively increase to 75 megawatts (MW) over the 10-year period to 2024-25. It will then need to increase to 140 MW by 2034-35, 240 MW by 2044-45 and continue to increase to an estimated 425 MW by the end of the 40 year study period.

The scope of Sanctuary Energy’s position paper is limited to the first 10 years of demand forecasts, and does not address the region’s long-term energy needs (i.e. 40 years) that were identified in the technical information paper. As a result, further refinement of the position paper is required before a comprehensive assessment of the proposed alternative can be made.

I further note that the concept proposed by Sanctuary Energy relies on the development and undertaking of a number of feasibility studies in order to establish the commercial viability of the project. These studies will take up to 24 months to complete. This time frame may be problematic given the need to ensure electricity supplies to the region by 2014 – 15. It is suggested that further consideration be given to reducing the timeframe required to undertake the feasibility studies.

I have forwarded a copy of Sanctuary Energy’s position paper to Powerlink Queensland for their consideration. I understand that Powerlink Queensland will liaise with Sanctuary Energy to further discuss the proposed alternative solution including its suitability to meet longer term energy demand and timing requirements in line with the technical information paper

I understand that PAGE has requested an urgent meeting with the Minister to discuss the position paper from Sanctuary Energy. A meeting with the Minister would be most beneficial once further refinement of the position paper and proposal and discussions with Powerlink Queensland have been undertaken. I would also encourage PAGE to provide feedback on Powerlink Queensland’s draft Environment Impact Statement (EIS). The draft EIS will be published for community consultation in the first quarter of 2009.

The Minister thanks you for bringing this matter to his attention and trusts this information is of assistance. Should you have any further enquiries, please contact Mr Robert Barton of the Office of Clean Energy on telephone 3227 7570.

Yours sincerely

CAMERON CROWTHER
Senior Policy Advisor
Office of the Honourable Geoff Wilson MP Minister for Mines and Energy

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Letter 1: PAGE letter – (10 December 2008)

Your Ref: ME/08/2972, MC2046
Our Ref: 9th December 2008
Honorable Geoff Wilson MP
Minister for Mines & Energy
Level 17
61 Mary St
Brisbane QLD 4000
Dear Mr Wilson,

I refer to your letter dated 14 October 2008 concerning Powerlink’s proposed Woolooga to Cooroy South transmission line and the meeting on 26th of August, 2008, between Powerlines Action Group Eumundi Inc (PAGE) and yourself.

Subsequent to this meeting, PAGE now confirms that at least one commercially viable alternative option to the proposed network augmentation has been identified and discussions undertaken with regard to others.

The identified alternative option is commercially viable and would deliver reliability and security of supply to Sunshine Coast households and businesses within the required timeframes, while meeting the environmental agenda of the QLD state Government . A detailed paper on this alternative is attached for your information. It outlines a solar thermal renewable generation plant complemented by a range of distributed energy and demand management options that would deliver reliable “bankable” peak demand management to mitigate the forecast peak demand in the area. Furthermore, with the addition of thermal storage capability this alternative would provide reliable “bankable” base load generation.

To identify this alternative, PAGE worked with Sanctuary Energy who facilitated a consultation process with numerous stakeholder including Energex, Powerlink, the Department of Mines & Energy (DME), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council. Through this process Energex and Powerlink have been cooperative in exploring potential alternatives and have provided support to Sanctuary Energy’s proposal for a solar thermal alternative.

Sanctuary Energy is an incorporated electricity Retailer established for property developers to optimise and integrate services and energy infrastructure from initial project planning to development, operation and subsequent stage development.

A solar thermal renewable generation alternative is scalable and modular which will allow the plant to increase in size (MW) over time in line with Energex’s projected demand growth between 2014 and 2024. At the same time it will achieve significant capacity increases in the short term to offset immediate capacity requirements. The solar thermal alternative is comparable in cost to other renewable technologies currently available; however, it is more reliable with the addition of storage capability that provides better reliability when demand is high. In addition, solar thermal economies of scale indicate cost efficiencies of 15-25% as the size (MW) of the plant doubles.

The current network augmentation proposal delivers a transport mechanism only. However the solar thermal alternative delivers a renewable solution that also localises the generation source close to the existing distribution network, minimising the impact on the local community. Furthermore local jobs will be created through the development of the solar thermal plant, and opportunities exist to establish a Mirror factory on the Sunshine Coast to supply this plant and other solar thermal plants being developed nationally.

PAGE, through consultation with Sanctuary Energy will continue to engage Energex, Powerlink, the DME, the EPA and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council to prepare a submission for the regulatory test.

We seek an urgent follow-up meeting with the Minister to discuss this matter further with a view to finding a path forward that takes into consideration these viable alternatives and which can speed up the deployment of clean energy technologies in Queensland, leading to the establishment of local manufacturing and create new clean energy jobs.

Yours sincerely,

Graham Smith,
Coordinator,
Powerlines Action Group Eumundi

CC: Hon. Peter Wellington, MP for Nicklin
Hon. David Gibson, MP for Gympie
Cllr. Vivien Griffin, Sunshine Coast Regional Council

(Refer to an overview of Sanctuary Energy’s alternative here.)

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