Plan for WA to harness clean energy supplies
22 Aug 2005
WWF has welcomed the WA Government's decision to reject a new highly polluting coal-fired power station for the State in favour of a gas plant.
WA's Gallop Government has endorsed the $400 million gas power station at Kwinana, which will be far less harmful to the environment than the coal-fired equivalent.
The Gallop Government's announcement came as WWF in conjunction with other industry and environment organisations launched a blueprint for WA to harness its massive renewable energy supplies.
The blueprint, Towards Western Australia's Clean Energy Future, outlines how a combination of efficient technology and cleaner energy sources, such as renewable energy and gas, can meet the same demands as a coal-fired power station at a much lower cost.
It shows that by following the plan, the State can generate more jobs than the coal-fired power options that have previously been considered by the WA Government - and massively reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
The report outlines how WA can avoid building future coal-fired power stations through a combination of wind, biomass, natural gas and smart energy efficiency programs. Renewable energy sources such as wind and biomass are abundant in WA and produce little or no pollution. While natural gas is still a fossil fuel it is 50 per cent less harmful to the environment than coal.
"The plan shows that the Clean Energy Future blueprint for WA is a least cost, least pollution and yet highest employment creator," WWF campaigner James Duggie said. "This sets a new bench mark against which other proposals for new coal plants compare very poorly and so we support the Gallop Government's decision to reject a new coal plant in WA."
Australian Conservation Foundation climate change campaigner Tristy Fairfield also welcomed the government's decision to rule out new coal. "Coal is a highly polluting energy source and cleaner, cheaper alternatives are available," she said. "Choosing gas over coal is a key pillar towards the fundamental reform required to create WA's clean energy future. The other two pillars are unlocking the renewable energy and energy efficiency resources in the State."
The report's author, Dr Mark Deisendorf, said the WA clean energy plan was an important opportunity for the Government to generate job growth. "The renewable energy power stations proposed in the WA clean energy plan will create many more jobs than the equivalent coal-fired power stations. A wind farm, for example, creates twice as many jobs and a biomass plant over four times as many. The report proposes that these sustainable industries be placed in areas of traditional coal employment like Collie to capture this skill base and ensure continuing regional employment in the energy sector."
Towards Western Australia's Clean Energy Future follows a national study by a group of Australia's leading economists and energy experts entitled A Clean Energy Future for Australia.
For more information
Download the Towards Western Australia's Clean Energy Future report:
Or contact:
Charlie Stevens, WWF Communications Officer
Mobile: 0424 649 689
James Duggie, WWF Western Australia Office
Mobile: 0410 221 410
Tristy Fairfield, ACF Climate Change Campaigner
Mobile: 0411 220 704
