Media release: Hazelwood power station to burn native forests
Ellen Sandell
State MP for Melbourne
25 June 2015
The Greens have revealed that Hazelwood power station could remain open for years to come by burning Victoria's native forests for energy, under changes to the federal RET passed this week.
"The dodgy deal done by Abbott and Federal Labor on the Renewable Energy Target will send our precious native forests to burn in Hazelwood, Australia's dirtiest power station" said Ellen Sandell, Victorian Greens spokesperson for Energy.
Hazelwood was slated to shut years ago, but its life was extended by state Governments desperate to prop up coal. It's an unsafe plant that's not being maintained and needs to close. However, under the new RET rules, Hazelwood has been approved to burn native forests which means it could stay open for years by destroying our precious, endangered habitat and keep polluting communities of the Latrobe Valley.
"This is yet another reason why we urgently need to replace Hazelwood to cut pollution, to make the switch to clean, renewable energy, and to save our native forests and endangered species from going up in smoke" said Ms Sandell.
"Replacing Hazelwood with clean energy will create sustainable jobs in clean industries, rather than propping up a dirty and outdated power station that wants to profit from burning our precious native forest" she said.
Ellen Sandell
State MP for Melbourne
25 June 2015