RENEWABLE ENERGY (ELECTRICITY) AMENDMENT BILL 2009
Tuesday, 25 May 2010 04:14
DARREN CHEESEMAN SPEECH ON RENEWABLE ENERGY (ELECTRICITY) AMENDMENT BILL 2009RENEWABLE ENERGY (ELECTRICITY) (CHARGE) AMENDMENT BILL 2009
I rise to speak on the Renewable Energy (Electricity) amendment Bill and the Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Charge) Amendment Bill 2009.
Mr. Speaker, given members have only a very short time to speak on these Bills I would like to confine my comments to the impacts on my electorate and my region.
These Bills are likely to affect my electorate more than any other across the nation.
Mr. Speaker, my electorate of Corangamite is uniquely placed.
Running right through the middle of my electorate is a wind tunnel.
Flanked on the southern sides by the Otways Ranges and to the north some plains, we have a unique geography that creates a corridor of wind.
Fortuitously, this wind corridor overlays a major arm of the Victorian power grid.
Because of this unique situation, right now, we have around $7 billion worth investment in wind energy projects across south west Victoria either having received approval, or awaiting approval.
Once this legislation has been passed, I expect this level of investment to grow further, and rapidly.
Mr Speaker, I think it is true to say our corner of Victoria is likely to attract a very large share of the domestic and international investment in the wind generation industry in Australia into the future.
The existing projects have been estimated to create over 2,000 construction jobs, and hundreds of ongoing jobs.
So this legislation is important in an environmental sense - in addressing climate change - and it is important to the economic development of my region.
Mr Speaker, I believe the wind generation industry has enormous potential for our region.
Partly through this industry I believe the Greater Geelong Region and south west Victoria can be a world leader in capturing green jobs.
There are these great wind energy projects, along with other initiatives, that hold a lot of promise for our region.
With our wind energy, geo-thermal energy, ocean energy, plus the potential of geo-sequestration in our region, I think one day into the future our region might be the heart of renewable energy across Australia.
I note that Germany's renewable energy workforce grew from 160,000 to 236,000 in just two years between 2004 and 2006, after they strengthened their renewable energy laws.
But for our region, whilst jobs are very important, this is about much more than jobs.
This Bill is a moral imperative for us.
Many members in this place will not know that Victoria is, proportionally, the highest carbon emitting state on the planet.
And Geelong, proportionally, the highest emitting city in the highest emitting state.
We cannot run away from the clear moral obligation that imposes on us Mr Speaker.
Our contribution to climate change, per head, is very significant.
So it is fantastic to see this legislation put forward - and hopefully voted up - so our region can now make a substantial contribution to addressing our carbon footprint.
Mr Speaker, I know there are sceptics of the wind energy industry.
Yes, there are some difficulties we have to deal with in relation to the wind generation industry, including such things as siting issues, which do need to be worked through.
I don't, for example, support wind farms on pristine natural landscapes like the Great Ocean Road.
But there are many heavily industrialised landscapes, used for a hundred years by the farming industry, where there are suitable locations.
Some people question the technology.
Yes, there are other technologies that have various advantages.
But at the end of the day we know that wind energy has been used effectively by people for centuries, and it is renewable.
I am a very strong supporter of the renewable energy industry and this Bill.
In two weeks time I will be hosting a high level Wind Generation Industry Key Stakeholders forum.
I have been totally overwhelmed by the support I have received for this forum from both the general public and the key industry stakeholders.
There is a sense we are on the cusp of a new era.
The forum looks like providing some real further momentum for the industry.
Mr Speaker, through this Bill we have a great opportunity to reduce our coal dependence, and to make a real difference on climate change.
We also have a great opportunity to create employment for our region.
I think we have a chance through this industry of substantially reducing our carbon footprint, and growing our workforce.
That would be a great outcome, and that's why I'm a strong supporter of this Bill.
Thank You Mr. Speaker.
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