Antinuclear

South Australia- both parties urged to pledge Port Augusta solar thermal funds

Parties urged to pledge Port Augusta solar thermal funds http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-11/parties-urged-to-pledge-solar-thermal-funds/5312566 11 Mar 2014, A community action group pushing for clean energy in Port Augusta wants a commitment from both parties to convert the local power stations to clean energy.

Alinta Energy received federal and state funding for a feasibility study into a solar thermal conversion of its coal-fired power stations at Port Augusta.

However, campaigner Dan Spencer, from Repower Port Augusta, says whichever party is elected at state level needs to make a firm commitment to the project now.

“Solar thermal plants operate overseas, we’ve got lots of precedents for how other countries have made solar thermal happen, so we don’t need to wait on all the details from the feasibility study for the State Government to start planning how it can happen,” he said.

“We know that over the next three years the next state government could play a critical role in facilitating this project – the worst thing that could happen would be the feasibility study being finished and then there’s no funding available to pour some concrete and start building it.”

March 12, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News