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Climate change great for SA’s plans

PM’S climate change policy great for SA’s plans

Premier Mike Rann says Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s $1 billion plan to connect more green energy to the nation’s electricity grids is great news for South Australia - which only last week released a blueprint for how to go about achieving it.

“As leaders in green energy usage, this is the best possible news for South Australia’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and connect more wind power to the national grid.”

Last week Mr Rann released a major independent report commissioned by the State Government that aims to establish South Australia as a significant green energy power house for Australia’s eastern seaboard.

“If we are to achieve a greater level of renewable energy usage in this country, connecting more green energy into the grid is the next logical step.

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment of $1 billion for this type of interconnection.

“South Australia is already a leader in green energy with just eight per cent of the nation’s population, we have done incredibly well in attracting nearly 50 per cent of the nation’s grid-connected wind power, about 20 per cent of its solar power and more than 90 per cent of its geothermal developments.

“The development of a greater amount of energy derived from our natural resources – wind, solar, geothermal and wave – is only being held back by the inability of private energy companies to sell their product because of transmission problems.
“We know there is a growing interest and demand for green energy.

“South Australia has excellent natural resources and just last week the State Government released a major independent report led by Macquarie Capital that shows more and better transmission lines from our State into Australia’s eastern seaboard would unlock billions of dollars more in green energy investment in our State.

“While that will not require State Government assistance, the Federal Government’s fund will undoubtedly leverage more interest and a greater private investment in transmission connection from our State into the national grid.

“This will also help the Federal Government’s commitment to its recently legislated target of having 20 per cent of the nation’s power coming from sustainable energy sources by 2020.

“South Australia has now set a new target of 33 per cent of South Australia’s power generation coming from renewable energy by 2020,” Mr Rann said.