[Greens-Media] Greens move to block burning native forests for electricity

[Freja.Leonard at parliament.vic.gov.au]

MEDIA RELEASE

24 April 2007 - Greens in the Victorian Parliament have moved a motion to 
block regulations to the Victorian Renewable Energy Target that would have 

made burning wood from native forests eligible for Renewable Energy 
Certificates.

Greens MLC Greg Barber said:  "In 2002 Labor made a clear promise, 'no 
burning wood from native forest for electricity' ".

"They've pulled a swifty and tried to go back on that, using regulations 
to the Victorian Renewable Energy Act 2006 tabled in parliament amongst a 
pile of other documents."

"This would mean native forests being logged, burnt, woodchipped then sent 
up in smoke, with the result being called 'renewable electricity'. 
The problem is, unlike wind or solar, this is not carbon neutral.  Logging 
native forests puts a huge amount of carbon into the atmosphere.  Burning 
the woodchips adds more.  Only over the next hundred or so years will the 
regrowing trees start to reabsorb the carbon.  We can't afford that."

"The single largest and quickest way for Victoria to reduce carbon 
emissions would be to end native forest clearfelling and woodchipping.  It 
could save us up 10 million tonnes per year, around a 6% cut to Victoria's 
emissions."

Under the Subordinate Legislation Act the Parliament has twelve sitting 
days (till roughly the end of June) to debate the regulations and vote 
to disallow them.  The Greens will aim to have such a debate in 
non-government business time.

For further comment please contact Greg Barber 0433 044 771



Freja Leonard
Electorate Officer
The Office of Greg Barber MP

Suite G-01/60 Leicester Street
Carlton  VIC  3053
P:  03 9348 2622
F:  03 9348 2699
E:  freja.leonard at parliament.vic.gov.au
----- Forwarded by Freja Leonard/Greens/PARL on 24/04/2007 10:40 AM -----

Greg Barber MLC <greg.barber at vic.greens.org.au> 
24/04/2007 10:27 AM

To
freja.leonard at parliament.vic.gov.au
cc

Subject
Greens move to block burning native forests for electricity






pls send to aus greens list


-- 
Greg Barber MLC
State Member of Parliament for Northern Metropolitan
Ph: (03) 9348 2622
Facs:  (03) 9348 2699
Suite G01, 60 Leicester Street Carlton 3053



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Greg Barber MLC
State Member of Parliament for Northern Metropolitan Region
Phone:  03 9348 2622	  
Fax:     03 9348 2699	              
Email:  greg.barber at parliament.vic.gov.au   
Office and Postal Address:  Suite G01, 60 Leicester St  Carlton  3053

MEDIA RELEASE

Release Date:	24 April 2007

Greens Move to Block Burning Native Forests for Electricity

Greens in the Victorian Parliament have moved a motion to block regulations to the Victorian Renewable Energy Target that would have made burning wood from native forests eligible for Renewable Energy Certificates.

Greens MLC Greg Barber said:  "In 2002 Labor made a clear promise, 'no burning wood from native forest for electricity' ".

"They've pulled a swifty and tried to go back on that, using regulations to the Victorian Renewable Energy Act 2006 tabled in parliament amongst a pile of other documents."

"This would mean native forests being logged, burnt, woodchipped then sent up in smoke, with the result being called 'renewable electricity'.  The problem is, unlike wind or solar, this is not carbon neutral.  Logging native forests puts a huge amount of carbon into the atmosphere.  Burning the woodchips adds more.  Only over the next hundred or so years will the regrowing trees start to reabsorb the carbon.  We can't afford that."

"The single largest and quickest way for Victoria to reduce carbon emissions would be to end native forest clearfelling and woodchipping.  It could save us up 10 million tonnes per year, around a 6% cut to Victoria's emissions."

Under the Subordinate Legislation Act the Parliament has twelve sitting days (till roughly the end of June) to debate the regulations and vote to disallow them.  The Greens will aim to have such a debate in non-government business time.





For further comment please contact Greg Barber 0433 044 771