End to power station a historic step for clean energy
07 Sep 2004
An historic decision to reject a Hunter Valley power station because of greenhouse gas concerns has been protected, after a legal appeal attempting to overturn the decision failed.
The end of legal action has been welcomed by WWF, the conservation organisation, as an important national first in reducing the pollution that causes climate change.
The appeal against the NSW Government's rejection of the Redbank 2 coal fired power station proposal has been withdrawn by the project developers, National Power. WWF took part in the legal proceedings due to concern about the high levels of greenhouse gas emissions generated by coal fired power stations. Emission cuts of at least 60 per cent by 2050 if we are to prevent a dangerous level of climate change.
WWF Climate change campaign manager Anna Reynolds said, "This is a first for Australia - a power station development considered for and then rejected because of high greenhouse gas emissions. The next step needs to be a law that requires all major developments to be assessed for their greenhouse emissions before approval.
"Redbank 2's development proposal rejection is a precedent for other Governments, energy companies and the finance sector to act upon.
"We can reduce greenhouse emissions to a level that will help prevent climate change only if there are more decisions like this one. Governments must reject applications to build the most polluting type of power stations.
WWF was active in opposing the Redbank 2 power station the proposal emerged in 2002 because it was highly inefficient and would have emitted the equivalent of 250,000 cars worth of greenhouse gas pollution every year.
WWF's opposition to coal power stations is based on analysis which shows Australia can generate its power needs from cleaner energy sources available today. The Clean Energy Future for Australia study was commissioned by WWF along with six energy industry associations and released in March 2004.
The study found sufficient clean energy resources available today to deliver Australia's energy needs and result in a cut of greenhouse emissions by 50 per cent by 2040.
Anna Reynolds, WWF Climate Change Campaign Manager, 02 8202 1204 or 0419 547 217
