ORANGE’S Greens candidate Janelle Bicknell says she wants the Central West to lead the push towards a clean energy economy.
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Ms Bicknell said a greater reliance on clean energy will help stabilise household power bills, eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation and create thousands of new jobs across the state.
“The Central West can become the heartland of solar and wind energy generation for NSW,” Ms Bicknell said.
“We should build on the success of existing clean energy projects, the planned Flyers Creek wind farm and Jemalong solar thermal station, and our region’s strong uptake of rooftop solar by households and businesses.”
Ms Bicknell said there’s no reason why Orange can’t spearhead the clean energy movement.
She said there’s already been a healthy uptake of solar panels in Orange and an interest in other clean energy sources.
“Orange residents have the drive and initiative to push for clean energy they just need to get government’s backing to make it happen,” she said.
According to Ms Bicknell a centrepiece of the clean energy plan is the creation of energy service agencies within the public sector to support the transition of households and small businesses from coal-based electricity and gas.
“In The Greens’ vision for a clean energy future, households and small businesses would no longer be passive consumers of electricity,” Ms Bicknell said.
“Instead they would become active participants in the electricity industry, trading rooftop solar electricity and other renewable sources across a publicly owned network.
“They will be able to manage their use to minimise costs and assist the network to transition to clean energy sources.”
Ms Bicknell said once the energy service agencies are operational they will give Orange residents the technical advice and in some cases the financial support they need to take advantage of the clean energy options available to them.
“The Greens’ plan will also provide certainty to wind and solar projects in the Central West by protecting against any weakening of the renewable energy target by the federal government and ensuring a fair and transparent pathway for wind farm approvals.”
tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au
