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Walk Against Warming - Sydney, 4 Nov. 2006photo by Gemma Romuld
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Walk Against Warming - Sydney, 4 Nov. 2006 photo by Gemma Romuld |
The future of NSW energy and greenhouse gas emissions is back on the agenda with the recently announced Owen Inquiry into the Supply of Electricity in NSW, due to report at the end of August.
The NSW treasurer, Michael Costa, favours building a new coal-fired power plant to meet the state's energy needs. The Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Phil Koperberg, believes that "NSW can build a coal-fired power station without busting its short-term greenhouse gas emissions targets" (Sydney Morning Herald 25.7.07).
However, the Climate Institute says, in their submission to the Owen Inquiry, that new modelling shows such a proposal would make it virtually impossible to stabilise the state's short-term greenhouse gas emissions at 2000 levels by 2025. The government has also set a longer-term target of cutting 2000 emissions by 60% by 2050 (SMH 25.7.07).
NSW Nature Conservation Council's executive director Cate Faehrmann says "Building a new coal-fired power station in NSW would lock in 20 to 30 years of greenhouse intensive pollution. To seriously address greenhouse pollution, NSW must turn around its emissions by the year 2010 and begin reducing them every year thereafter".
NSW has abundant renewable energy and energy efficiency options, but Premier Iemma, stated before the inquiry had even started, that coal was on the agenda. However, he has since indicated that gas could be a viable option. He said "There may well be a sufficient gas supply to make gas-fired baseload generation an alternative to coal" (SMH 1.8.07).
However, the National Electricity Market Management Co in their submission to the Inquiry say that NSW may not need base-load power plants. Base-load capacity needs to operate continually to be commercially viable. Rather, they say, NSW may need only generators to handle power surges together with measures to reduce demand (SMH 6.8.07)
The Climate Institute submission says that NSW energy needs can be supplied to 2020 by a combination of:
Premier Iemma admitted in an interview on ABC's Stateline (3.8.07) that " demand management will help. Renewables have got a role".
However, at the moment only 0.4% of generated power in NSW comes from renewables, even though the government has mandated that 15% of electricity will come from renewables (wind and solar) by 2020.
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A copy of the prepared email to Morris Iemma, Premier of NSW is shown below.
Regards from the Citizens Climate Campaign Committee
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Morris Iemma, The Climate Institute in their submission to the Owen Inquiry state that new modelling shows a coal-fired power station would make it virtually impossible to stabilise NSW's short-term greenhouse gas emissions at 2000 levels by 2025. I note that you have indicated that there may well be a sufficient gas supply to make gas-fired base-load generation an alternative to coal. Given that gas also produces significant greenhouse pollution, though somewhat less than coal, I urge you to consider the option of 'peaking' gas-fired power stations to meet peak energy demands only. The National Electricity Market Management Co in their submission to the Inquiry say that NSW may not need base-load power plants, only generators to handle power surges together with measures to reduce demand. As only 0.4% of generated power in NSW currently comes from renewables, how will your Government achieve its mandated target of 15% of electricity from renewables (wind and solar) by 2020? Please ensure that NSW meets its energy needs and emissions targets by:
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