National environment group Friends of the Earth has welcomed Premier John Brumby’s announcement of a gross-feed-in tariff to support the development of large scale solar power plants in regional Victoria.
Friends of the Earth Media Release
Wednesday 21 July, 2010
National environment group Friends of the Earth has welcomed Premier John Brumby’s announcement of a gross-feed-in tariff to support the development of large scale solar power plants in regional Victoria.
“This is a bright move that will help Victoria get ahead of the pack in the shift to renewable energy, said FoE campaign coordinator Cam Walker.
“It will be a popular initiative among the millions of Victorians who are looking for strong leadership on climate change.â€
“By fast-tracking more clean-energy projects like this, the Government will soon be able to replace the dinosaur Hazelwood coal-fired power station.â€
“It’s time for Victoria to shed its image as a world leader in burning polluting brown coal, and become a world leader in renewable energy,†he said.
“We applaud the target of having 25% of Victoria’s electricity coming from renewable sources by 2020, and we look forward to a comprehensive plan to meet the urgent threat of climate change.â€
“In 2006 Premier Brumby committed to introducing a “landmark†Climate Change Bill so we expect that a centrepiece of the Government’s Climate Change White paper to be released this month will be strong new climate change laws.â€
“The White Paper should deliver a whole of government Climate Change Bill which sets ambitious emission reductions targets and is benchmarked on the Climate Change (Scotland) Act, " he said.
“Even without the long awaited price on carbon, such a Bill would provide the framework for clarity for future energy investment, while driving down greenhouse emissions and creating thousands of new green jobs,†he concluded.
For phone interview contact:
Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth campaign coordinator    0419 338 047
Media assistance: Louise Matthiesson       0417 017 844