[Greens-Media] Plenty of power kills excuse for privatisation and new generators

[John Kaye]

Plenty of power kills excuse for privatisation and new generators

Media release: 27 August 2009

NSW Finance Minister Joe Tripodi's plans to sell-off much of the electricity industry and force the construction of three new power stations are in tatters, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Commenting on data to be released by the organisation that runs the national electricity grid, Dr Kaye said: "The need to privatise much of the industry and build 4,700 MW of fossil-fuelled base load generators was entirely based on a supposed shortage of generating capacity in the next decade.

"Now that the people in charge of the national electricity grid  are saying clearly that there is no looming gap between supply capacity and demand, the Rees government's scheme is exposed.

"There is no need for a massive generator building program.

"There is no need to sell-off the electricity retailers and hand over control of the state-owned generators to the private sector.

"Without any justification Joe Tripodi is pushing ahead with a scheme that will increase the state's greenhouse gas emissions, destroy jobs in renewable energy and  push up household power bills.

"A year ago the Iemma government came unstuck because then Treasurer Michael Costa ploughed on with electricity privatisation despite community opposition and a lack of justification.

"Finance Minister Joe Tripodi is picking up where Michael Costa left off," Dr Kaye said. 


For more information:	John Kaye 0407 195 455