[Greens-Media] Koperberg digs in deeper on carbon burial spilt

[John Kaye]

Koperberg digs in deeper on carbon burial spilt
 
Media Release: 28 September 2007
 
Environment and Climate Change Minister Phil Koperberg’s attempt to
explain away his ‘almost oxymoron’ condemnation of ‘clean coal’ earlier
this week has highlighted divisions within the Premier Iemma’s cabinet
on carbon capture, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye said: “On ABC radio last night, Minister Koperberg tried to
talk his way out of trouble by referring to ‘cleaner coal’ and making a
distinction between the coal itself and the technologies that convert it
to electricity.
 
“All he did was make matters worse.
 
“At the same time as Minister Koperberg was muddying the waters by
suggesting that clean coal is an oxymoron but that clean coal technology
is not, Energy Minister Ian Macdonald was re-affirming the Iemma
government’s commitment to carbon capture and storage in question time
in parliament.
 
“While it is difficult to understand the distinction being made by Phil
Koperberg, it is clear he maintains strong reservations about the
ability to make coal-fired electricity generators into low emissions
sources of energy.
 
“He has let the cat out of the bag.
 
“Minister Koperberg’s words only reinforce the message that he knows
that ‘clean coal’ is a dangerous distraction from the task of developing
renewable energy and energy efficiency,” Dr Kaye said. 
 
>From http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/27/2045654.htm:
 
But Mr Koperberg has sought to explain the difference between the term
'clean coal' and developing clean coal technology.
 
"We've got to keep this in context, I never said that clean coal
technology was an oxymoron, I said that coal - clean coal, coal it emits
- and that's why the whole world and New South Wales leaders in many of
those areas is encouraging technology which will make coal cleaner," he
said. 
 
"That is the objective, it has got nothing to do with breaking ranks."
 

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
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000