August 16th 2010
Greens: SA will become renewable energy export hub
The Australian Greens propose an extended electricity grid across
Australia to bring renewable energy on line.
“This can convert South Australia, an importer in the age of fossil
fuels, to a renewable energy exporter,” Australian Greens Leader Bob
Brown said today.
Speaking in Adelaide today, Senator Brown said South Australia had huge
potential for geothermal, solar and wind power.
“However, there should be a full inventory of this potential to ensure
investment in the grid is configured to meet future renewable energy
production.
“South Australia has it all – wind, geothermal and solar – and it should
be exporting clean energy to the rest of Australia and the world,” said
Senator Brown.
“Investment in the state’s transmission grid would help make renewable
energy export a major jobs provider and revenue producer.
The Greens South Australian renewable energy plan includes:
* Connecting South Australia’s electricity grid directly to
Queensland’s, to allow renewable energy to be exported
* Upgrading power lines from Port Augusta to South Australia’s
North East to capture solar and geothermal
* Building a transmission grid ‘spine’ through Eyre Peninsula to
capture wind potential
* Phasing out the brown coal-fired Northern and Playford power
plants
Australian Greens South Australian Senate candidate Penny Wright said
there were many renewable energy projects waiting for investment in the
grid to get off the ground.
“For example, the Macquarie Capital Green Grids report this year showed
four potential wind energy projects on the Eyre Peninsula that with
better transmission infrastructure, could more than double South
Australia’s generation capacity to 7500 Megawatts.
“That could provide up to 3000 jobs in the construction phase and 250
ongoing positions.
“Estimated electricity sales would add $158 million to the state economy
and save 2.75 million tonnes of carbon dioxide across the national grid
each year.”
Media contact Erin Farley 0438 376 082
www.greensmps.org.au
Erin Farley
Media Adviser
Senator Bob Brown | Leader of the Australian Greens
Suite SG-112 Parliament House, Canberra ACT
P: 02 6277 3577 | M: 0438 376 082| F: 02 6277 3185
http://bob-brown.greensmps.org.au/| www.GreensMPs.org.au
<http://www.greensmps.org.au/>