THE BIG THREE POWER COMPANIES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

The renewable energy industry sector is still waiting on a Federal Government decision on the Renewable Energy Target (RET).  This is vital to the health of an industry which has been losing investment because of uncertainty about its future.

As the mining boom eases and unemployment increases, it would make sense for the Government to promote a clean industry which already employs many Australians and has the potential to employ many more if the right incentives are in place.  The fact that it seems determined to ignore both the employment and climate positives of an expanding renewables sector suggests a "dinosaur" ideological mindset.

Late in March John Hewson, former Liberal Party Leader, showed his concern about the situation of the Australian renewables industry. He delivered a stinging attack on Australia's three major power companies – Origin, Energy Australia and AGL.  

Hewson was concerned at the part these three, who control more than 70% of the energy retail market in Australia, are having in thwarting the development of renewable energy . He believes that these companies' influence encouraged the Federal Government's inquiry into the RET which was headed by climate sceptic Dick Warburton.   Unsurprisingly the inquiry recommended the cutting of the RET, something the Abbott Government has been determined to pursue despite its pre-election promise to keep the RET at 41,000GWh.

According to Mr Hewson the big three retailers claim to support renewable energy while they are lobbying to undermine it.  He is also concerned that they have been "getting away with screwing households by hitting customers with almost obscene profit margins as energy retailers."

He said, "But here's the good news.  The Australian public, the vast majority of us who support cleaner and cheaper power from renewable energy and are opposed to dirty coal and damaging coal seam gas, have the ability to reclaim control over our public policy.

"In order to stop vested interests like Origin, AGL and Energy Australia who have much to gain by halting the growth of renewable energy, all we need to do is switch our energy provider to a company backed by 100% renewable energy."

            - L Blain

This article was published in the "Voices for the Earth" column in The Daily Examiner on April 13.

GASFIELD BUFFER ZONES FOR CAMDEN AND GLOUCESTER

Residents in the Camden and Gloucester areas have concerns about the proximity of coal seam gas wells to their homes.  Elsewhere in NSW most residential areas have 2 km buffer zones between them and gas wells.

 

In Camden there are gas wells within 200 metres of homes.  These wells were approved before the Government introduced the 2 km buffer zone in response to a long public campaign to keep wells away from residential areas.  Camden residents are concerned that cracks in walls and subsidence may be due to the proximity of the gasfield.

Their concerns about the gasfield increased on August 31^st when a well near Spring Farm homes leaked noisily for several hours forcing residents to call in the fire brigade.  AGL's comments following this incident are unlikely to have reassured local residents.

Last month the State Government gave AGL (the same company operating the Camden gasfield) permission to frack four gas wells less than a kilometre from homes.  (Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a process for releasing gas trapped in rock.)

An independent hydrogeologist, Professor Philip Pells, has warned of the high risk of fracking at Gloucester.  AGL's own hydrogeologist , John Ross, has also commented on  the high risk associated with fracking in these four wells.  

There is a major risk of aquifer contamination. Gloucester's position at the head of the Manning River means that any contamination could cause problems for the river and the drinking water for 75,000 people.

The approval of these wells is inconsistent with Government buffer zone policy. Why have a policy that you disregard?

The Lock the Gate organisation is calling on the NSW Government to provide the same rights and protections for Camden and Gloucester residents that everyone else in the state has.  

They are urging the government to do three things.  The first is to suspend AGL's approval to frack at Gloucester and to review all CSG approvals there.  The second is to decommission all existing wells within 2 km of homes at AGL's Camden gasfield.  The third is to investigate and prosecute all pollution incidents at AGL's Camden gasfield.

            - Leonie Blain

This article was published in the VOICES FOR THE EARTH column in The Daily Examiner on Monday 8th September, 2014.