Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens' Energy spokesperson
Today’s announcement that the Federal Government will fund a feasibility study into pumped hydro power storage is welcome, as is all investment in renewable energy.
It is pleasing Tasmania’s role in transitioning Australia’s energy system to renewable is being explored. This, however, is a long term plan. The projects being considered, if feasible, wouldn’t come online for over a decade.
We hope this isn’t just another feasibility study into energy solutions that doesn’t see the light of day. There are still two other outstanding reports - the Future Security of the National Electricity Market, and the Tasmanian Energy Security Taskforce Report - sitting, un-released on a desk somewhere.
There is a risk a pumped hydro system could be just like the second undersea cable project, expensive and risky in a rapidly evolving energy system.
In their time in office, the Hodgman Government has done nothing to encourage investment in renewable energy that helps the Tasmania now. The State is in almost exactly the same position it was when we were hit by the energy crisis.
The Liberals have done nothing to secure the State’s energy supply, except turn the expensive gas-fired Tamar Valley Power Station back on.
The Hodgman Government has not announced a single policy to encourage the construction of new renewables to secure our energy supply.
With real investment and government leadership, it would only take five years for Tasmania to become renewable energy secure all the time. Households and business should be able to access affordable, secure, on-island renewable energy through hydro, wind and solar generation.
The Hodgman Government needs to announce a target for Tasmania to become 100 per cent energy self-sufficient, 100 per cent of the time to be credible on renewable energy.