[Greens-Media] Koperberg is dreaming: new coal generation will blow targets

[John Kaye]

Koperberg is dreaming: new coal generation will blow targets
 
Greens Media:  25 July 2007
 
Climate Change and Environment Minister Phil Koperberg is misleading
himself and the people of NSW if he thinks this state can build a new
coal fired power station and still have any hope of meeting his year
2025 greenhouse gas emissions target, according to Greens NSW MP John
Kaye.
 
Commenting on a story on page 5 of the Sydney Morning Herald, Dr Kaye
said: “Minister Koperperg needs to do the arithmetic and see the damage
that even a relatively small 1,400 MW coal fired power station would do
to the target. 
 
“With the lowest emission technologies currently available, it would
emit more than 8.8 million tonnes of CO2 a year and boost this state’s
emissions by at least 5.7% of our year 2000 level. 
 
“Other sectors of the economy would need to reduce their emissions by a
massive 12.8% to compensate.
 
“It’s time to fess up. If the Iemma government builds a new coal fired
power station, they are not serious about meeting their greenhouse
targets.
 
“Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has demolished Minister
Koperberg’s clean coal argument. 
 
“Minister Koperberg and the Iemma government will have to either
contradict their federal leader or admit that carbon capture and storage
technologies will not be available before 2030, five years after the
2025 target date.
 
“In any case, NSW is debating the construction of a new coal plant now,
not in two decades time. 
 
“The best we can hope for in the timescales of the current debate is a
minor improvement in generator efficiency, leading to a few percentage
points off total emissions. 
 
“If Minister Koperberg is serious about climate change, he will oppose
new coal fired generators in this state and not allow Treasurer Michael
Costa and his ‘browns’ allies to role him in cabinet,” Dr Kaye said. 
 

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: John.Kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000