Firth's efficiency push kills Costa's privatisation rationale

Dr Kaye said: "Environment and Climate Change Minister Verity Firth's announcement yesterday is welcome news.
 
"The government has belatedly realised that the most sensible, cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to decrease the demand for energy by pushing up efficiency.
 
"Verity Firth's confidence in the ability of the people of NSW to stop growth in demand has her colleague Michael Costa without a leg to stand on.
 
"The Treasurer's sell-off propaganda is all about keeping the lights on by encouraging investment in new baseload power generation to meet load growth.
 
"Michael Costa used the sham inquiry led by Professor Tony Owen to claim that without privatisation and the new power stations it would bring, the lights would go out.
 
"Now Environment Minister Firth tells us we can stop demand growth in its tracks.
 
"She is of course right. Energy efficiency is the cheapest and lowest greenhouse gas emissions way of keeping the lights on for a growing population.
 
"Clearly the battle is on inside the Iemma cabinet.
 
"Treasurer Costa and his allies are pushing for more privatisation, more fossil fuel power and more greenhouse gas emissions.
 
"Environment Minister Firth and her allies are holding the line on a clean energy future.
 
"It's time for Premier Iemma to step in and pull the plug on the sell-off and new fossil fuel power stations," Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455