Simon Branigan Environment Tasmania MR
The Federal Government is currently reviewing the expansion of the MRET, and is under heavy pressure from the wood-chipping industry to count the industrial burning of wood from native forest as a renewable energy source. In a submission to the review, Environment Tasmania has highlighted the serious ecological and social impacts of large scale woodchip power stations.
Media Release
Friday 1st August
Environment Council SLAMs NATIVE FOREST FURNACE PUSH
Tasmania’s peak environment body is calling for the immediate removal of native forest biomass from the list of eligible fuel sources under an expanded Mandatory Renewable Energy (MRET) Scheme.
The Federal Government is currently reviewing the expansion of the MRET, and is under heavy pressure from the wood-chipping industry to count the industrial burning of wood from native forest as a renewable energy source.
In a submission to the review, Environment Tasmania has highlighted the serious ecological and social impacts of large scale woodchip power stations.
“The practice of burning native forests for power will have massive ecological implications as well as further diminishing these natural carbon sinks”, [1]said Simon Branigan, spokesperson for Environment Tasmania.
“In fact, the National GreenPower Accreditation group has specifically ruled out the accreditation of generators using wood waste from native forests, with other State Governments also excluding native forest wood waste from MRET schemes[2]” he continued.
“Forestry Tasmania is desperately trying to secure Renewable Energy accreditation for the proposed Southwood Biomass plant, that will be powered by the further destruction of our native forests, including from the logging of the remaining stands of old growth and rainforest in the Huon district,” said Will Mooney, spokesperson for the Huon Valley Environment Centre.
“It would make a farce of our efforts to tackle climate change if the State or Federal government’s gave in to industry pressure to count the slashing and burning of our native forests as a renewable energy source,” concluded Simon Branigan
Environment Tasmania is Tasmania’s peak environment body, representing more than 20 environment groups across the state. A copy of Environment Tasmania’s response to the Expanded National Renewable Energy Target Scheme is available on request.
