[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Rann Government shifts from clean wind to dirty coal

[Parnell]

Media Release
Thursday 20th November, 2008


Rann Government shifts from clean wind to dirty coal 


Greens MLC Mark Parnell has slammed the Rann Government's promotion of
'coal-to-liquid' technology in the state's far north that will produce
more greenhouse pollution than conventional petrol or diesel.

"This is Mike Rann's great energy leap backwards," said Greens MLC Mark
Parnell.

"To say this coal fuel is 'ultra-clean' is like saying cigarettes are
'ultra-fresh'.  

"These coal plants don't produce 'clean' fuel; they produce dirtier
fossil fuels, with more greenhouse damage, than the petrol or diesel we
currently use.

"The technology is completely unproven.  Yet, according to the CSIRO,
even in the best case scenario, more climate change producing carbon
will be released by this process than by conventional fossil fuels," he
said.

Brisbane-based Linc Energy has announced it will set up in SA to promote
'several' coal-to-liquids plants in the Arckaringa Basin.  This
announcement follows the Rann Government's embrace of a proposed new
brown coal fired power station near Kingston in the state's south east,
and a recent report by Ernst & Young which states that SA has lost its
national leadership on renewable energy.

"The Rann Government likes to think of itself as a climate change
'leader', yet it happily supports new coal projects in South Australia
that will massively increase the state's greenhouse pollution.  

"Meanwhile, the recent Ernst & Young report says we are about to lose
our renewable energy 'crown' as companies move interstate to take up
better opportunities.  Wind energy is being replaced by greenhouse
hungry coal.

"The companies behind these schemes like to spruik jobs as the biggest
benefit.  Yet truly clean, renewable energy alternatives such as wind,
solar, wave and geothermal offer much greater potential for secure job
creation in South Australia.  

"This is what this state should be embracing, not untried and untested
dirty coal technology," he said.

 
	
For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893

	


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