Great to get this support from local MP Dan van Holst Pellekaan...

Dan van Holst Pellekaan MP

Shadow Minister for Regional Development
Shadow Minister for Sport & Recreation
Shadow Minister for Racing

Local MP proposes Parliament investigate solar thermal proposal

Liberal Member for Stuart and Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Dan van Holst Pellekaan, will introduce a motion in parliament to establish a House of Assembly Select Committee to investigate the merits of the proposal that solar thermal power plants could replace existing coal-fired power stations at Port Augusta when coal from Leigh Creek is no longer available.

“We recognise that solar-thermal is a new technology about which we have limited knowledge and understanding so I believe that a Select Committee is the appropriate way to gain sufficient knowledge to help parliament make an informed decision on our next steps,” Mr van Holst Pellekaan said.

“Reducing pollution and improving local health outcomes while still providing affordable base load electricity is the goal for which we must strive and we cannot afford to wait until the coal runs out before we find the answers.

“We need to ensure that the three key issues of job security in Port Augusta and Leigh Creek, the cost of implementation and the reliability of the technology are central to the committee’s inquiry. A Select Committee could clarify these.

“The approximately 500 jobs that Alinta provide at Leigh Creek and Port Augusta are my highest immediate priority, but we must start serious work now to give the solar thermal proposal the opportunity to be the solution to the problem we are going to have anyway when the Leigh Creek coal runs out.

“A Parliamentary Select Committee is the logical first step to give the solar thermal proposal the opportunity to prove that it could be the solution to the problems we face.”