MEDIA RELEASE  
11 June 2015 

Government needs to act for Port Augusta's clean energy future

The Conservation Council SA is backing calls for the State Government to act swiftly to ensure long-term sustainable employment in the Port Augusta region.

The Conservation Council SA is backing calls for the State Government to act swiftly to ensure long-term sustainable employment in the Port Augusta region.

Chief Executive Craig Wilkins said: “Fossil fuels are falling over in South Australia. But the good news is that our renewable energy industry is ready and waiting to step up, replacing our old electricity supply and the jobs that went with it.”

“Just in the last week when the Northern power station was out of action, SA was able to manage perfectly well because wind energy supplied our needs.

“Only yesterday, we heard Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane talking about the live opportunity for our car industry workers to transition to manufacturing parts for a solar thermal power industry. This is a great export opportunity, but there’s no reason we can’t also have solar thermal power right here in SA.

“Next week a report by UNSW energy expert Dr Mark Diesendorf will show just how quickly South Australia could transition to 100% renewable energy, and all the benefits it would bring.

“Renewable energy is clean and safe and it provides brand new and much needed job opportunities for our state. The Port Augusta community has demonstrated that it overwhelmingly supports a new solar thermal power station, which could be part of a renewable energy industry hub in the region.

“This is the way of the future, and the State Government has a clear duty to act to make it happen, just as it has previously intervened to clean up a dirty industry and protect jobs at Nyrstar in Port Pirie.

“The ball is well and truly in the Premier’s court: invest in solar thermal for the future of Port Augusta and a strong SA economy,” concluded Mr Wilkins.


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Media Contact: Meg Sobey, Communications, 0411 028 930