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MONDAY 18 JUNE, 2012 |

Greens Aim To Repower Melbourne With Solar

by Energy Matters

Greens Leader Christine Milne, Greens Candidate for Melbourne Cathy Oke and Melbourne MP Adam Bandt recently announced the Greens' energy and climate policy in the lead-up to Victoria's by-election.

Among the party's policies is the Community Renewables Fund; enabling local communities, organisations and body-corporates to establish local commercial scale solar farms on rooftops.

The $50 million needed for the initiative would be taken from funding allocated to the controversial HRL coal fired power station. The facility would be the first coal-fired generator to be constructed in Victoria in decades and is a project that has been overwhelmingly opposed by the community.

"Every home and building in Melbourne has the potential to be a powerhouse. Our Community Renewables Fund would start to make this happen," said Ms. Oke.

The Greens have also committed to scrapping the Baillieu government's anti-wind farm laws which they say are killing wind power in the state.

Senator Milne said Baillieu government policies of expanding Victorian coal exports shows it has "nothing to offer when it comes to tackling global warming."

In March, the Victorian Government reneged on election commitments of a 20% carbon emission reduction target and capping emissions from new coal fired power stations.

Adam Bandt, who recently returned from an energy tour in Germany, said during the presentation that Australia needed to emulate Germany; where the majority of renewables-based electricity generation is not owned by a handful of energy companies but by individuals and community groups.

"Last year, more than 20% of power of their electricity came from renewables. The German Federal Environment Agency says that by 2050, 80% per cent of Germany's energy could come from renewables."

"Beyond just the environmental and energy security benefits, this investment in clean technology has resulted in the creation of some 382,000 renewable energy jobs in Germany. We can start to make that happen in Melbourne."

Related:

Solar power systems - Melbourne/Victoria