[Greens-Media] Release: Western Australia needs energy diversity: $30 million sustainable energy fund must not be axed

[Bout, Marie (Sen S. Ludlam)]

4 December 2008

Senator Scott Ludlam

Western Australia needs energy diversity: $30 million sustainable energy
fund must not be axed

Greens spokesperson for sustainable cities Senator Scott Ludlam, is
calling on the Barnett Government to keep a $30 million sustainable
energy fund as part of a commitment to secure energy source diversity in
Western Australia, in light of the findings of the Senate Inquiry into
the Varanus Island gas explosion which exposed the state's energy
vulnerability.

"I urge the Barnett Government to consider Western Australia's need for
energy diversity in their consideration to axe a $30 million fund aimed
at encouraging sustainable energy companies. It would be foolish to
forego an opportunity for better energy security, as well as a chance to
avert the dangerous climate change," said Senator Scott Ludlam.

"The Varanus island accident caused huge disruptions in the economy and
exposed just how fragile our energy system is, not just in Western
Australia but right across the country."

"There are two pipelines 1,500 kilometres long which bring 95 per cent
of the gas from the north-west. Creating such vulnerability by
centralising our energy supply is folly on behalf of government who need
to seriously commit to creating new energy pathways."

"What we saw was one accident at one plant which knocked out a
substantial proportion of Western Australia's gas supply, with severe
economic consequences. It's clear that the path to energy security is
through source diversity."

"A bright future would show a diversity of sustainable renewable energy
sources, rather than the fossil energy dinosaur of large centralised
plants connected by cables or pipelines thousands of kilometres from the
source to the load or the demand."


For more information or media enquiries please call Marie Bout on 0415
507 763.