Port Augusta waits till June for decision on solar thermal as South Australia announces $150 million renewable fund, but disappoints with gas handout

 

The people of Port Augusta wait till June for decision on solar thermal as South Australia announces $150 million renewable fund, but disappoints with gas handout

 

Tuesday, March 14: Repower Port Augusta has welcomed the South Australian Government’s new $150 million dollar next generation renewable energy fund but is disappointed the plan includes even more multi-million dollar taxpayer funded handouts for gas extraction.

 

The State Government is expected to announce its power purchase for a new generator to be built in South Australia by June which is critical for solar thermal to be built in Port Augusta.

 

“All eyes will now be on the South Australian Government’s power purchase which is due in June which will be the key to unlocking a large solar thermal plant with storage in Port Augusta, the South Australian Government just must get this done, and they know that,” said Dan Spencer campaigner with Repower Port Augusta.

 

“Jay Weatherill has the deadline of June to lock in his government’s support for building a solar thermal plant with storage in Port Augusta with the government’s power purchase and the community will be waiting. This would create badly needed new jobs as well as a long term large scale storage solution for South Australia” Mr Spencer said.

 

“The South Australian Government’s new $150 million dollar fund for renewables with storage, announced today, will be a major boost for next generation renewable storage projects which must go some way to ensure that the incredibly important solar thermal project in Port Augusta proceeds.

 

“This one project can achieve so much, creating new jobs and strengthening our renewable powered grid.

 

“South Australians want long term, clean solutions to our energy crisis and using the new Renewable Technology Fund to build battery storage before summer is a strong start,” Spencer said

 

“The State Government’s new Energy Security Target should be structured to phase in projects like solar thermal with storage and other 24 hour renewable technologies. It should also put a limit on subsidising polluting gas generators,” Mr Spencer said.

 

Repower Port Augusta has expressed disappointment that South Australians will hand over another 24 million dollars for new gas exploration, following a previous 24 million handed out last year.

 

“It’s crazy that the South Australian Government is handing over 48 million dollars to explore and potentially frack for new gas and goes against the government’s record of leadership on climate change,” Mr Spencer said.

 

For media inquiries: Dan Spencer 0423 865 632

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