Iemma’s gas better than Costa’s coal but both bad for greenhouse targets

Greens NSW MP Dr Kaye said: “A 1000 MW combined cycle gas turbine with best available technologies would still emit more than 3.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

“This would add a massive 4.6% to this state’s year 2000 stationary energy emissions and make it much harder to reach the state’s meagre targets of returning to year 2000 emissions by 2020.

“While this is about half the emissions of an equivalent sized coal fired power station, it is still too much.

“Renewable energy options, energy efficiency and solar hot water could easily remove the need for any base load power station, coal or gas.

“Rapidly retiring off-peak electric hot water and replacing them with gas-boosted solar units would reduce the base load demand to the extent that existing capacity would be more than adequate for years to come.

“Premier Iemma’s back down from coal gives encouragement to the strong community campaign for no new base load capacity and real action on global warming.

“However the game is not over yet. Treasurer and climate sceptic Michael Costa makes no secret of his enthusiasm for new coal generation in NSW.

“Clearly there is a battle in cabinet between Treasurer Costa and his ‘browns’ allies and Premier Iemma.

“This is a contest for the future of not only the climate but also the economy.

“The Treasurer wants to take this state back to a past era where energy intensive industry and wasteful residential consumption drive an ever-expanding coal-fired electricity system.

“It’s time the carboniferous faction in cabinet realised those days are now past and got on board with a much more exiting low emissions, high employment future,” Dr Kaye said.