[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: 90% renewable energy on the way!

[Jaques, Alison]

Please find attached media release from ACT Greens Member for Molonglo, Shane Rattenbury MLA.

MEDIA RELEASE
Shane Rattenbury MLA, ACT Greens Member for Molonglo

20 March 2014

90% renewable energy on the way!

Canberra is one step closer to achieving our 90% renewable energy target with the passage of new legislation in the ACT Legislative Assembly today, said Shane Rattenbury, ACT Greens Member for Molonglo.

"This ground-breaking legislation will increase the capacity of the large-scale renewable energy scheme from 200 Megawatts to 550 Megawatts and will see the ACT well on the way to meeting our 40% emissions reduction target by 2020" said Mr Rattenbury.

"This will allow the ACT Government to increase the amount of energy it can utilise from large-scale renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy farms.

"Plans for projects under this legislation will include 200MW of wind power, 1MW for community managed solar projects, as well as a further 50MW for large-scale solar, on top of the 40MW that has already been through the solar auction process.

"The ACT is leading the way on climate change action by making the renewable energy revolution actually happen.

"We aren't waiting for the Federal government, and we aren't waiting for international action - we are showing that a community that supports action on climate change can take real responsibility for our own emissions.

"On top of that, the people of the ACT will get the opportunity to lock-in electricity prices for 20 years, beating the anticipated rises in fossil fuel prices.

"We've already got major solar farms underway, now there will be the opportunity for the ACT to purchase significant amounts of wind power from around the Australian Capital Region and beyond.

"This, combined with local action by Canberrans putting solar on their rooftops, will see the ACT move away from polluting black power, and onto a diet of clean, renewable electricity using the energy systems of the future," said Mr Rattenbury.


Statement ends

Ali Jaques | Media Adviser to Shane Rattenbury MLA
ACT Greens Member for Molonglo
Minister for Territory and Municipal Services; Corrections; Housing;
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs; and Ageing.

t:  (02) 6205 3897 | m:  0481 035 764| alison.jaques at act.gov.au |

Follow Shane on  Facebook and Twitter



-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This email, and any attachments, may be confidential and also privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete all copies of this transmission along with any attachments immediately. You should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------