Community advocacy organisation GetUp! says AGL, EnergyAustralia and Origin Energy are among the worst polluting operators in Australia. This isdespite the companies’ claims relating to clean energy technologies such as wind and solar power. Getup calls this group the “Dirty 3“.
The Dirty Three Report produced by GetUp says the three companies are responsible for 46% the carbon pollution produced by Australia’s 10 most polluting companies and 13 per cent of Australia’s total carbon emissions.
“This report shows once and for all just how dirty Australia’s three biggest energy providers really are,” said GetUp’s director of market impacts James Grugeon.
“The ‘dirty three’ power companies often present themselves as champions of renewable energy. They operate behind a smokescreen of sustainability that makes it hard for their customers and Australian consumers to understand the real story.”
Emissions have increased since Carbon tax axed
Perhaps a signal of the ramifications of the axing of Australia’s carbon tax, the report states emissions from EnergyAustralia and Origin’s dirty power stations increased by more than 500% during the last year.
Following its acquisition of Macquarie Generation, AGL is now Australia’s worst polluter in terms of carbon emissions says the report. Emissions from AGL’s dirty power stations are now more than 20 times higher than five years ago.
Mr. Grugeon also states AGL, EnergyAustralia and Origin Energy have been lobbying against Australia’s Renewable Energy Target.
“By outlining the facts on the ‘dirty three’ we hope their customers and Australian consumers who support clean energy can start to make informed decisions,” said Mr Grugeon.
The impact of coal in particular isn’t just about climate change. The report says the adverse impact on health from coal-fired electricity generation costs around $2.6 billion annually. Long term exposure from coal-fired power generation accounts for 1590 deaths in Australia’s four main cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth each year.
In addition to carbon dioxide emissions, other pollutants from coal-fired power generation include:
- carbon monoxide,
- mercury,
- volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
- sulfur dioxide,
- nitrogen oxides and
- hydrochloric acid.
Dirty 3 dominate Australian electricity industry
More than 70% of Australians still buy their electricity from the Dirty 3 of AGL, EnergyAustralia and Origin Energy. This is even though other “cleaner” players exist that are competitive on pricing. Additionally, new solar power products are available that can provide clean electricity at cheaper rates, with $0 up-front investment in some cases.
The full Dirty Three report can be viewed here (PDF).
GetUp! is an independent, grassroots, community advocacy organisation with a membership of more than 800,000 people that seeks to build a more progressive Australia.
