29 March 2005Sydney Morning HeraldAnne Davies
The Premier's specialist advisory body on greenhouse gases has recommended that NSW slash its emissions by 60 per cent by 2050, adopt aggressive demand management and defer a new coal-fired power station until technologies advance.
The submission by the Greenhouse Advisory Panel, in response to the NSW energy green paper, makes it clear that commissioning a coal-fired power station now - one option in the paper - is incompatible with any meaningful reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in NSW.
Citing CSIRO research on global warming commissioned by the Premier, Bob Carr, the panel says the time for action - preferably at a national level - is now if a 2 per cent increase in global temperature is to be avoided.
The 60 per cent reduction is in line with the target adopted by the Blair Government in Britain.
"It sounds like a large target but it's what the scientific community is saying is required at the moment if we are to avoid dangerous effects of greenhouse gases," the panel's chairman, Martijn Wilder, said yesterday.
Instead of new coal-fired power stations, the panel wants comprehensive demand management to buy time so carbon offset measures and technologies can advance before new coal-fired power stations are built.
Meanwhile, the head of the NSW Greenhouse Office in the Premier's office, Alexandra Gordon, has resigned. She was not available for comment and the reasons for her departure are unclear.
A spokeswoman for Mr Carr said the panel's recommendations would be considered along with all other submissions.
"In coming months the Government will be releasing an energy plan for NSW looking at ensuring energy supply for the coming years and our growing population," she said.
"It is anticipated by the year 2050 there will be new, cleaner technologies in energy supply," she said.
It is understood that cabinet will soon consider a greenhouse blueprint which will then be released for comment ahead of the Government's separate announcement of the electricity plan.
It is expected to include a proposal for a $6 million energy technology fund to help spur innovation.
But whether the blueprint will blunt the likely outcry over a decision to build at least one more coal-fired power station - if that is the direction the State Government takes midyear - remains to be seen.
Of the nearly 400 submissions received by the State Government on its energy green paper, the overwhelming majority is against the building of new coal power stations.
Some are clearly part of a letter-writing campaign by green groups, but a significant number from individuals and companies question why more has not been done by the state to manage the burgeoning demand for electricity through the use of smart metering (so people know how much they are consuming) and through education campaigns.
Several submissions have queried why the paper fails to mention, let alone discuss, nuclear power.
