Page 4195 - Week 13 - Thursday, 27 November 2014
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DR BOURKE: Minister, why is it important for the ACT to pursue the development of renewable energy?
MR CORBELL: I thank Dr Bourke for the supplementary. There are a range of environmental and economic reasons why it is so important that our city is part of this transition to a low carbon future. First of all, we note that, to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to help contribute towards what would otherwise be a catastrophic increase in average atmospheric temperatures by the middle of this century and beyond, we need to reduce and, indeed, decarbonise the emissions intensity of our electricity supply sector. Therefore, support for renewable energy has to be part of that transition. Indeed, it has to be the major part.
But, in addition, there are significant economic opportunities that come from embracing this shift to a low carbon future. We are seeing some of those benefits flow through in our city at the moment: our support for large-scale renewable energy projects such as the large-scale solar projects is seeing significant investment in jobs and activity during the construction stages of those projects. They are also helping to see our city become a base for investment in renewable energy projects moving forward.
We have seen, for example, the federal government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, provide a significant grant to the southeast region of renewable energy excellence in industry cluster project, supported by local governments around the region and by the New South Wales and ACT governments. The fact is that they are now looking at how they can lead trade delegations to overseas economies such as India as a way of promoting the renewable energy opportunities and expertise that are present in our city and in our region. Whether it is economically or environmentally, it is very important that our city pursue the development of renewable energy into the future.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, what is next for the ACT’s renewable energy initiatives?
MADAM SPEAKER: I will call the minister, but I remind him that he should not be announcing new policy.
MR CORBELL: Certainly not, Madam Speaker. I thank Ms Porter for the question. As I have already advised members, the next stage in our renewable energy initiatives is in relation to the selection of winning bidders for our 200-megawatt wind auction process, delivering enough energy, we know, to meet at least the energy needs of one in two Canberra households with renewable energy. At the same time, in supporting that transition, we are supporting the opportunity for those households to be less vulnerable to the significant price shifts that will otherwise occur because of demand and supply in non-renewable energy fuels, such as coal and gas.
We also know there are significant opportunities for further economic development in our city and our region associated with this transition to renewable energy generation.
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