Coast’s future in clean energy
By Save Eumundi Team • Aug 21st, 2009 • Category: NewsThe Sunshine Coast could be an exporter of clean energy by 2025 with the sector rivalling construction, retail and tourism as one of the largest contributors to the region’s economy if the council leads the way.
That is the assessment of Fiona Waterhouse, the Coast-based head of Australia’s Financial and Energy Exchange, who described that goal as bold but achievable.
It would open up employment opportunities, allow skill transition between industries and help solidify the council’s push to be an Australian model of regional sustainability.
The Sunshine Coast council, the fourth-biggest local authority in Australia, spends $10.7 million a year on electricity, $4.9 million on diesel and unleaded fuel and $450,000 on gas.
The senate this week passed the federal government’s renewable energy bill, which requires 20% of all electricity be generated from that source by 2020.
Ms Waterhouse, a member of the council’s energy transition taskforce, is one of the country’s leading clean energy experts.
She said the council needed to signal to the market that it would buy 100% of its power and fuel from renewable sources, with preference for those generated locally.
It would need to enter into 20-year power, fuel, demand-management and energy-efficiency agreements with suppliers.
“Basically the council just needs to lead by example and be prepared to lock into long-term contracts with local suppliers of clean energy solutions,” Ms Waterhouse said.
A former sustainability manager for the Environmental Protection Agency, Ms Waterhouse said the state government had a considerable focus in its Renewable Energy Plan on removing the barriers to the growth of the clean energy sector.
She argues that the council could easily approach its Office of Clean Energy about a partnership to showcase how that could be done effectively on a regional scale.
Environment portfolio head Keryn Jones said savings gained through improved energy efficiency could fund a commitment to renewable energy.
Source: Bill Hoffman – http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/aug/21/coasts-future-clean-energy/
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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