State Budget Disaster for Renewable Energy in WA

State Budget Disaster for Renewable Energy in WA

Thursday 8th August 2013

Greens WA spokesperson on climate change and energy policy, Robin Chapple MLC, has hit out at the savage cuts to renewable energy spending in today’s State Budget.

“Last year was bad enough, so I thought this one had to be a misprint – but sadly not!

“The allocation for sustainable energy spending by Verve amounts to a piddling $2.1million over the next 3 years, collapsing to ZERO in the fourth year of the forward estimates - compared with a whopping $287.3million for fossil fuel infrastructure.

http://www.treasury.wa.gov.au/cms/uploadedFiles/State_Budget/Budget_2013...

“This is a disaster – in the same week that the Australian Senate and the American Meteorological Society both released reports detailing the links between greenhouse gas emissions and extreme weather events, the Barnett government continues to sit on its hands and pretend it’s someone else’s problem.

“This budget allocation flies in the face of common sense.

“I am furious about this, on the one hand this Government is building more and more climate sensitive infrastructure, and on the other hand it is refusing to shoulder its responsibility by making the switch to renewables.

“The budget continues to see the Government throwing money at the most polluting industries including mining, gas production and energy generation.

“West Aussies have demonstrated an overwhelming preference for solar and wind power, and the Greens have shown government the way with our detailed Energy 2029 plan for converting to renewables – this budget is a major disappointment for the sustainability aspirations of WA”, Mr Chapple concluded.

Energy 2029 plan: http://www.greenswa.net.au/energy2029

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