Secret Numbers on New Coal Must Be Released

Thursday, 26 May 2005 10:00

The full cost to consumers of polluting power must be made clear, as well as the assumptions behind the economic modelling. TEC has questioned the Government's endorsement of more polluting coal power.

"The number crunchers driving polluting power must come clean on how they arrived at such a horrendous decision for the people of NSW," said Jane Castle, TEC campaigner. "Polluting coal-fired power is inefficient, expensive and unnecessary. There must be an independent and public assessment of every single step down the road to this appalling proposal."

"There is no reason for the Government to hide its calculations. We should all be able to see what assumptions they have made in arriving at such an atrocious decision."

The NSW Government's leaked Energy White Paper has given the green light to more polluting coal-fired power for NSW. Coal-fired power is the greatest contributor to Australia's greenhouse gas emissions which cause climate chaos and contribute to the worsening drought and water shortages.

The new Energy Savings Fund that comes into effect on July 1 has $40 million per year to reduce waste and save energy. The Fund can help neutralise demand growth and save consumers on their electricity bills.

"We want to know whether savings from the new $40 million per year Energy Savings Fund have been included in the calculations. The Energy Savings Fund can deliver reductions of 2000MW of average demand and 1000MW of peak demand. We don't need more dirty, expensive fossil fuel generation."

"The imminent destruction of Bob Carr's reputation as a leader in the fight against climate chaos should not be taken lightly. He should look closely at Treasury numbers which are being used to dig NSW's greenhouse grave."
 

For further information

Contact
:
Jane Castle or Jeff Angel
Phone
:
61 2 9299 5599
Email
:
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:
http://www.tec.org.au/