LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Border talk on energy 

The Victorian Government is in secret talks with New South Wales to extend its compulsory clean energy scheme beyond state boundaries.

The Government confirmed yesterday it was negotiating with NSW for the two states to buy and sell renewable power to help meet mandatory targets for clean energy use.

But it has denied it is in talks with the Tasmanian Government for a similar deal, despite claims from a Tasmanian wind farm proponent that trade talks are under way.

Government spokeswoman Stacy Hume confirmed the discussions with NSW were to negotiate “a scheme with reciprocal rights between the particular states”.

It’s the first sign the Victorian Government planned to push its compulsory green energy scheme, known as the Victorian Renewable Energy Targets, beyond state boundaries.

The scheme is based on laws requiring 10 per cent of all electricity sold in Victoria by 2010 to have come from a renewable energy supply such as wind or solar power.

The laws, designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by forcing retailers to buy clean energy, were introduced last year and applied to Victorian-based energy producers only.

But NSW allows its energy retailers to buy clean energy from any power generators in Australia that sell into the national electricity market, or grid.

Australian Wind Energy Association CEO Dominique La Fontaine believed an expansion beyond the state’s boundaries would encourage the industry.

“If we are able to establish a Victoria, NSW and Tasmanian energy target scheme that would be of benefit to the industry,” Ms La Fontaine said.

Victorian laws require that electricity retailers buy 10 per cent of their power from renewable energy generators by 2010.

By comparison, the Federal Government’s scheme is only for 2.5 per cent by 2010, and most retailers have already reached their targets so there is no incentive for clean energy.

NSW has the nation’s most ambitions renewable energy targets.

Its 10 per cent goal by 2010 has risen to 15 per cent by 2020.

Liberal Leader Ted Baillieu, opposed to the Victorian scheme, said he remained sceptical about its effectiveness.

Mr Baillieu said the way to cut greenhouse emissions was to tackle polluting industry such as the coal-fired power stations in the Latrobe Valley.

By Ellen Whinnett, state politics reporter

January 29, 2007

news.com.au

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon