[Greens-Media] Rubbery figures: 'Clean' energy target doesn't add up

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

Rubbery figures: 'Clean' energy target doesn't add up

Canberra, Monday 24 September 2007  Australian Greens Climate Change
Spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, is calling on Prime Minister
Howard and Environment Minister Turnbull to clarify how their proposed
target for so-called 'clean' energy adds up.

The target of 30,000 GWh amounts to only 9% of the ABARE projections for
energy demand in 2019-20 of 342,000 GWh. Where is the extra 6%?

Senator Milne said "Malcolm Turnbull has done exactly what he accused
others of doing this morning, and presented a slogan with no substance.
Unless and until he comes forward with all the relevant information, the
claim that this will be a 15% target cannot be taken seriously.

"Yesterday's media release suggests strongly that the 30,000 GWh is
intended as a total figure. But this would amount to only 9% of the
government's official energy demand projections of 342,000 GWh in
2019-20.

"If you give them the benefit of the doubt and add the original MRET
baseline, the approximate total of 46,000 GWh still only adds up to 13%
of projected energy demand.

"Either the government is including significant, and as-yet unannounced,
energy efficiency measures into their calculations, or they are
deliberately using rubbery figures and hoping nobody examines them
closely.

"Calls from my office to the Minister's office this morning have so far
yielded no extra information on this vital question."

"Achievable"
"Mr Turnbull has been at pains this morning to assure everyone that the
target his government has set is eminently achievable.

"This begs the question - if you are so confident this target can be
met, why not set a more challenging one? The aim of a target such as
this is to drive industry to work hard and achieve big things, not give
them a hand-out for something they were going to do anyway.

"Around the world, the renewable energy industry is booming where
strong, ambitious targets have been set. In Australia, where we have
tremendous resources and world-leading researchers, our industry is
stalling.

"The EU countries have set renewable energy targets that will supply 21%
of their total electricity from renewables by 2010. California has a
target of 20% renewables by 2010 and 33% by 2020, much of which will be
achieved using Australian baseload solar thermal technology."

Tim Hollo
Media and Communications Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
Phone: + 61 (0) 2 6277 3063
Mobile: + 61 (0) 437 587 562
Email: tim.hollo at aph.gov.au
Skype: timhollo
www.christinemilne.org.au
www.youtube.com/senatormilne