FOR our community to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by renewable energy we need political support and advocacy.
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Three of candidates contesting the upcoming Orange byelection replied to the following question concerning renewable energy:
“The Australian Capital Territory has set a renewable energy target of 90 per cent renewable energy by 2020. There are also plans to implement training facilities to take advantage of the employment opportunities presented by a vibrant renewable energy industry. How would you promote renewable energy in our region”
Janelle Bicknell (Greens)
“The Greens support the transition from coal to renewables. In the electorate of Orange we already have the Jemalong Solar Thermal Plant, as well as the solar farm proposed for Manildra. Having renewable energy in the Orange electorate would be great for regional development as well as the local economy. I will support and advocate for local council and community-based projects, such as the proposed Flyers Creek windfarm, in order to increase the percentage of renewables in our local energy mix.”
Scott Barrett (Nationals)
“Affordable and reliable electricity is vital to the future of our farming and local manufacturing jobs. That is why we need to ensure that a transition to other forms of electricity is done without costing jobs, unlike schemes with questionable environmental benefits, such as the carbon tax. The NSW Nationals have supported a number of local, practical renewable energy projects in the Central West, such as the ethanol production at Manildra and the proposed solar farms at Parkes. Such examples will increase our energy production as well as provide jobs for locals in those areas.”
Bernard Fitzsimon (Labor)
“The ACT's renewable energy target of 90 per cent by 2020 is optimistic, highly laudable and something to which I can easily subscribe. I would also hope that any plans in NSW ‘to implement training facilities to take advantage of the employment opportunities offered by a vibrant renewable energy industry’ would include restoring TAFE funding, resources and facilities to previous levels and a commitment by the State and Federal Governments to to make the related TAFE-university courses accessible and affordable, particularly to our young people.”
Next week the Orange byelection candidates give answers to the environmental problem of waste management.