Politics blurs the benefits of renewables

MEDIA RELEASE FROM AMANDA FINDLEY

In a bid to address Shoalhaven City Councils rising electricity costs Greens Clr Amanda Findley put forward an ambitious motion that would have placed Council well in front should grant funding for renewable energy schemes become available. Instead of celebrating good sense Clr Findley has criticised her Councillor colleagues as ‘dinosaurs’ unable to accept change.
Clr Findley called for  the preparation of a report that would look at energy systems available to Council, their payback periods and a cost benefit analysis.
 “ I’m shocked that the conservative Councillors don’t believe that reducing Councils electricity costs is ‘Core Business’- electricity costs us a small fortune and Councillors have an obligation to look at every means available at keeping that cost down’ she said.
 In bringing forward the proposal for the investigation in renewable energy options Clr Findley said “it would put Council on the front foot to receive Federal Funding from the Carbon Tax and lived up to community expectations’.
“ In some ways I’m not surprised the conservatives slammed the idea- even though it makes good economic sense- for they use any opportunity they find to try and invalidate Climate Change’.
During consultation for the Community Strategic Plan – Shoalhaven residents declared loud and clear that they wanted their Council to react to Climate change implications and to be part of low carbon economy.
 “ By supporting the renewable energy industry we show confidence in and boost a new sector of our economy that can go ahead in leaps and bounds” said Clr Findley.
 “the motion would have advanced Council in buffering against rising electricity costs- but instead we saw politicking for the sake of it and no real consideration for the long term.”

 Copy of the motion put to Council.
A report be prepared for Council addressing the following.
1)Council investigate opportunities for a significant investment into alternative energy generation systems including but not limited to co or tri-generation
2)That the significant investment should address a minimum of ½ the required power needs of Council’s total energy requirements.
 3)A cost benefit analysis including but not limited to the payback period of the investment, the life time of the equipment and projected savings.
4) Any development services implications
 5)Funding opportunities either internally or externally.
6) Council approach the University of Wollongong to carry out the investigation and should they refuse a further report be brought to Council on how it can be advanced.
  Background
During Councils budget deliberations over the last 4 years electricity prices have continued to rise. This trend will continue into the future. Shoal water are making a significant investment in buffering the costs of electricity by installing alternative energy technologies. Shoalhaven Council can continue to be an early adopter of new technologies and buffer itself for rising electricity costs by investing in renewable technologies. Council has a significant amount of strategic funds that could possibly be accessed to pay for such a project with energy ‘savings’ being the loan repayments. This proposal satisfies Objective 2.3  Community Strategic Plan, A COMMUNITY THAT SEEKS TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING IMPACTS AND INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO ADAPT TO THE EFF ECTS AND IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE