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Carbon push falls on energy providers THE most ambitious carbon emissions reduction commitment in the country, the ACT Government’s target of 40 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020, will be driven by legislation to forcibly flip the business model of electricity companies. “We have to shift the way we deliver energy efficiency and make it available to lots and lots of homes and businesses,” ACT Environment Minister Simon Corbell told “CityNews”. “We can’t afford to do it through grant programs and rebates. “The way to do that is to require our energy suppliers to stop being suppliers of just energy, but also suppliers of energy efficiency. “That’s how we see being able to achieve wide-scale energy efficiency. We put the mandate on the electricity company to deliver energy efficiency.” Given the lack of policy documents presently on the table, ActewAGL business strategy and development general manager Dianne O’Hara said she wasn’t in a position to make detailed comment. “ActewAGL is happy to work with the ACT Government to reduce carbon emissions in the ACT,” she said. “We look forward to reviewing the legislation when it is available for comment.” With the target coming off the back of the 2008 ACT Greens-Labor Agreement, Greens MLA and Speaker of the House Shane Rattenbury supports the Government’s decision. “It’s the target that we need and it’s the
It’s not going to be easy being green as the ACT gets serious about carbon reduction, reports ELERI HARRIS target that the science demands,” he said. “But we’ve only got 10 years to do it, which is quite a short time frame to turn around the Titanic.” Given the absence of heavy industry or coal-fired power generation, how will our capital-sized ocean liner will make this emissions u-turn? The ACT Government is working on three policies that will produce legislation specifically designed to reduce carbon: Waste management, a second action plan and an updated “weathering the change”. Other key aspects of the ACT Government’s plan to reduce emissions involve the recently announced “wide scale” (read “commercial”) expansion of the feed-in tariff, which will benefit companies wanting to construct solar farms; a push for widespread solar hot water delivered through Government programs or by ActewAGL, when it becomes an efficiency service provider; a bigger take-up of sustainable transport; and creating energy from waste. Corbell says all these things will be up and running this term, the feed-in tariff and mandate for energy efficiency within this financial year. “We’re not inventing things that haven’t been done before, all of these measures
How the ACT will hit its 40 per cent carbon-emission target reduction: • 8 per cent efficiency • 4 per cent solar hot water • 3 per cent green power • 6 per cent feed in tariff • 4 per cent sustainable transport • 10 per cent waste • 3 per cent land use density • 2 per cent biosequestration we’re talking about have been implemented on this scale in cities around the world,” he said. Canberra Liberal leader Zed Seselja says the measures are too costly. “To get from 25 or 30 or 40 per cent you’re looking at the more punitive and expensive measures and I think that’s where Canberrans will find it difficult,” Seselja said. “Canberrans would find it difficult if they’re asked to pay double for car parking, 50 per cent more for electricity. “We need to make sure Canberrans do not bear an unreasonable burden.” But “Canberra Loves 40%” lobbyist Phoebe Howe says the success of the target from 30 to 40 per cent relies on everyday decisions. “We’ve got the goal of the machine set, we’ve just got to build all the mechanisms to get that machine going. “An aspirational target that challenges us, makes us think about the problem, is the best thing a government can do.”
briefly Hohnen wins prize WELL-known former Canberra lawyer Peter Hohnen (pictured) and his co-author Richard Guilliatt have won the UK Mountbatten Literary Award for their book “The Wolf”, the story of one of the most remarkable and least-known episodes of World War I. In a continuous 100,000-kilometre voyage lasting 15 months, the commerce-raider SMS Wolf caused havoc across three oceans, launched Germany’s only direct attacks on Australia and NZ and captured more than 400 men, women and children. The annual award, to be given in
INDEX October 14-20, 2010
Since 1993: Volume 16, Number 41
Arts&Entertainment Cinema Crossword Dining Health&Fitness Horoscope Home Letters News Politics Property Social Scene Sudoku
19-22 21 29 22 24-25 29 26 9 3-12 4 30-47 16-18 29
FRONT COVER: Cartoonist Judy Horacek. Story Page 5. Photo by Silas
Phoebe Howe… “An aspirational target that challenges us…is the best thing a government can do.” Photo by Silas
London on October 28, is made to a work of literature that contributes most significantly to public awareness of maritime issues.
For orangutans
CANBERRA mum Erana Loftus, 27, is going to take part in the 2011 Orangutan Adventure Trek in Sumatra, Indonesia, run by Rainforest Rescue, which is helping to restore and protect the orangutans endangered habitat. She is raising funds for Rainforest Rescue at the Uni Pub, London Circuit, from 7pm on Friday, October 22. Tickets are $15 and $20 on door or from Landspeed Records in Garema Place.
Colin to Canberra
COLIN Tidswell is the new CEO of the Gungahlin Regional Community Service. Colin comes from the NT where he was CEO of four community service organisations.
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CityNews October 14-20