Antinuclear

Close dirty coal-fired power stations – we want renewable energy, say Port Augusta residents

The State Government says above average lung cancer levels in the city are caused by smoking.

Locals lobby for renewable power http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-22/port-augusta-locals-renewable-power/4025622?section=sa May 22, 2012  Port Augusta residents want the town’s coal fired power stations replaced with renewable alternatives . Residents at Port Augusta in South Australia’s north have launched a campaign to replace the city’s two ageing coal-fired power stations. A community group has been set up to encourage a switch to renewable energy.

The Playford and Northern stations are two of the oldest in Australia
and have become unviable under the Federal Government’s carbon pricing
scheme.

Their owner, Alinta Energy, wants funding from the Federal
Government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation to close the generators
down and is considering gas-fired and solar-thermal electricity as
alternatives.

Local resident and group spokeswoman Annette Morse says solar energy
is the best way forward.

“We’ve got the sun here, why not use what we’ve been provided with,” she said.

Port Augusta Council chief executive Greg Perkin agrees that a
renewable option is needed and says residents have long complained
about health problems from the stations.

“That clearly shows community support for a cleaner future for power
generation in our city,” he said. The State Government says above
average lung cancer levels in the city are caused by smoking.

May 24, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | energy, South Australia | South Australia