[Greens-Media] Where are the solar champions?

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey MEDIA RELEASE
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Tues 30 May 06

Where are the solar champions?

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey has criticised the ACT Chief Minister for ignoring the potential for solar energy development in the ACT and talking up the likelihood of nuclear energy.

"I sometimes wonder if the ACT Chief Minister would rather cut a dash on the national stage than do the hard yards for the Canberra community and the environment in which we live" Dr Foskey said today. 

"Mr Stanhope has responsibility for energy policy. So far he has distinguished himself by resisting greenhouse targets and talking up the possibility of nuclear energy in the ACT."

"We would all like to see the Chief Minister start championing Canberra's rich solar energy expertise, instead."

 "The World Bank and a confidential coal industry report support our view that solar thermal energy could supply all of Australia's energy needs, yet governments are all talking up more dangerous and destructive technologies."

 "It is unbelievable and reprehensible that neither Canberra's Labor government nor its Liberal Party opposition are pushing the Commonwealth to lift its investment in solar industry research and development."

"As a consequence, as reported in the Canberra Times today, solar energy researchers are operating under a climate of fear."

"Canberra is endowed with world leading expertise in solar technology which has the potential to create employment and revenue for the Territory in the short term and make a significant contribution to global well-being as well."

 "And we have the sunshine to start this right here.  However, unless local leaders champion the industry, that potential will be lost."

 "To prevent catastrophic climate change we need to provide a favourable climate in Canberra for our leading edge researchers" Dr Foskey.

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Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
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