Tasmanian Labor is determined to see a compromise when it comes to inclusion of biomass in the renewable energy target.
Labor Leader Bryan Green said he will continue to lobby his Federal colleagues to strive for a better outcome for Tasmania’s forest industry.
“I have written to Shadow Environment Minister Mark Butler to strongly put forward the case for a compromise on the inclusion biomass in the RET,” Mr Green said.
“We are not talking about large scale power stations in the middle of the forest burning trees to create electricity.
“There are many businesses that could supplement their energy usage by using residues in bio-energy plants on a small to medium scale.
“It could include a small sawmill burning wood waste on site to fire kilns or an industrial operation utilising biomass to fuel boilers in place of coal or gas.
“Projects like this have the potential to create environmental and economic benefits.
“There is also the potential to utilise plantation forest residues, residues from private land, and invasive weeds such as gorse.
“In the plantation sector, innovative companies such as Forico, which already operating in Tasmania, have the technical and financial capacity to invest in the production of wood pellets and offer our industry a new source of income.
“At this point in time there is no incentive for the commercial sector to be innovative in its approach to utilising forest residues.
“Labor is advocating for an application process that would allow proposals to be assessed on their merits.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader
