Greens commit $150 million to renewables

The Victorian Greens are opposed to the building of the HRL Brown Coal Power Station in Morwell and will redirect $150 million dollars of public funding earmarked for HRL to renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

At today’s launch for the lower house seat of Morwell the Greens lead candidate for the Eastern Victoria Region Upper House, Ms Samantha Dunn, joined the Greens seat of Morwell candidate Mr Dan Jordan in announcing the Greens intention to redirect the public funding.

“The Victorian Greens are opposed to the HRL Plant being built and will regulate to make sure it does not go ahead because it will not reduce carbon emissions,” said Ms Dunn.

“The Greens will redirect the $150 million dollars of public monies earmarked for this project by the current State and Federal Labor Governments into renewable energy projects such as geothermal power, wind farms and solar power, as well energy efficiency measures with industry and homes,” said Ms Dunn.

Scientists from the University of Melbourne have recently identified the Latrobe Valley as being an ideal location for geothermal power due to the layer of brown coal acting as a thermal blanket.

“The development of geothermal energy in the Latrobe Valley is an exciting possibility,” said Mr Jordan.

“It would attract new industry and create new jobs in the Latrobe Valley and has the potential to become a base load generator of electricity that could replace Hazelwood and possibly other brown coal fired stations as they reach the end of their lives,” concluded Mr Jordan.

For more details, contact Samantha Dunn 0429 29 29 04 or Dan Jordan 043 787 0954