Antinuclear

Only one Liberal Member of Parliament is clearly in favour of wind energy

Pollie Watch: Where do Coalition MPs stand on wind farms? Crikey September 24, 2013 by Leigh Ewbank    Crikey has conducted a survey of sitting Coalition MPs on the issue of wind energy. The news service has found just one pro-wind energy MP in the government’s ranks, Leichhardt’s Warren Entsch. Reporter Andrew Crook notes: “It seems like Entsch is to wind as Julie Bishop is to women among senior Coalition ranks.”

So what else did Crikey find? There are a few Coalition MPs ‘on the fence’, some who ‘show promise’, and several retired pro-wind energy Liberals:

In favour …

Warren Entsch

Entsch has gone in to bat for a wind farm proposed in his electorate. According to The Tablelander last month, he said the following on the Mt Emerald development: “The bottom line is Mt Emerald would bring a lot to this region in terms of attracting investment, stabilising escalating power prices and raising our profile as a leader in sustainable energy solutions … It is time to start dealing in facts and the fact is that wind generated power is a hugely viable, largely untapped resource in this area that would provide us with a stable, viable energy solution.”

The Tablelander noted the area has the second highest wind resource in Australia: “Our electricity prices have doubled in the past five years and this figure will only continue to rise unless we look at reliable, practical and sensible power sources like wind, water and solar. It’s not rocket science — locally generated power will stabilise costs, if not drive them down.” Mr Entsch said claims noise from wind farms caused health problems were ‘‘unsubstantiated”.

On the fence …

Greg Hunt…….

Ian Macfarlane…….

If the Abbott government fails to adopt a pro-wind energy stance, it risks being out-of-step with mainstream community views.

All of the available public polling shows that three quarters of the community support more wind farms. The clean energy source is even highly popular among Coalition voters.

Warren Entsch and Malcolm Turnbull have shown political leadership on wind energy. Friends of the Earth hopes the Abbott government follow the lead of these sitting members.

http://yes2renewables.org/2013/09/24/pollie-watch-where-do-coalition-mps-stand-on-wind-farms/

September 25, 2013 - Posted by Christina MacPherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics