labor and libs line up to support forest furnaces

Senator Christine Milne

The government and opposition today voted against a move by the Greens to exclude unsustainable and highly polluting native forest furnaces from the definition of renewable energy.

Nevertheless, Australians working and investing in renewable energy will breathing a sigh of relief today as legislation is set to pass the Senate fixing the Renewable Energy Target thanks to months of campaigning by Australian Greens Deputy Leader, SenatorChristine Milne.

"I believe Australians would be shocked to learn that the government and opposition are using a popular and positive bill to support renewable energy as cover to drive the destruction of our native forests," said Senator Milne.

"Burning native forests for energy is neither renewable nor zero emissions. It drives the destruction of habitat and sends our huge carbon stores up in smoke. It does not belong in the renewable energy target.

"Forestry Tasmania is already boasting that its proposed25MW forest furnace at Southwood would generate 160,000 certificates under the renewable energy target."

WWF last night released a statement clarifying that it does not support burning native forests as renewable energy after Forestry Tasmania posted a WWF report on its website, claiming that the conservation organisation supported its actions.

"Forestry Tasmania has once again been caught out misrepresenting others and bending the truth to serve its own purposes.

"WWF's report made it clear that the only circumstances under which they support bio energy from native forests are when it is sourced from Forest Stewardship Council certified forests and there has been a full life cycle analysis of the carbon emissions from the forestry operations.

"Forestry Tasmania's operations clearly do not qualify.

"Despite this tragic outcome for the forests, the Greens are pleased that our long campaign to fix the flaw in the renewable energy target is finally bearing fruit, with jobs like those at Musselroe Bay wind farm now safe."