Greenpeace blockades coal fired power station, demands Energy [R]evolution

27 Greenpeace activists are taking non-violent direct action to stop
climate-changing coal from being burnt at Eraring, Australia's most
polluting coal-fired power plant. The activists, including an ex-miner
from the Hunter Valley, have blockaded the coal supply to the plant by
locking on to the conveyor. The action comes as the Australian
government's climate change advisor Professor Ross Garnaut prepares to
deliver his Draft Climate Change Review.

Photos | Energy [r]evolution Live Reports

“We have to stop fuelling climate change when creating electricity,”
said Greenpeace Australia climate and energy campaigner Simon Roz.
“Eraring, an old and inefficient plant, is one of eight coal-fired
power stations in New South Wales. These plants are responsible for
half the state's and 13% of Australia's greenhouse pollution. Eraring
is the biggest culprit, sending nearly 20 million tonnes of greenhouse
pollution into the atmosphere every year. Each hour we blockade the
coal supply, we will prevent 2,000 tonnes of CO2 being released.”

Greenpeace is calling on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to deliver policies
that support renewable power so that Australia can immediately start
replacing old and dirty coal-fired power. Part of that support should
be a robust emissions trading scheme designed to deliver substantial
cuts in greenhouse pollution quickly.

“The Government would do well to listen to Professor Garnaut and accept
that they must implement an Emission Trading Scheme that does not
pander to interests of the few over the needs of the whole country,”
said Steve Shallhorn, Executive Director of Greenpeace
Australia-Pacific.

Greenpeace has recently released two reports showing how renewables,
combined with some gas co-generation and energy efficiency, can provide
all of Australia's energy needs. The `Energy [R]evolution Scenario' (1)
showed that renewables could replace all coal power by 2030. A second
report, `A Just Transition to a Renewable Energy Economy in the
Hunter'(2) found that replacing coal-fired generation with renewable
power would create tens of thousands of local jobs.

Graham Brown, a retired coal miner from the Hunter Valley, said “I feel
very strongly that we must start making the transition from coal-fired
power to renewable energy. Coal communities have been taken advantage
of by coal companies and governments. Renewable energy is the future
and it's bright. Workers must be retrained and re-skilled so that they
don't miss out. Renewable technology is already there, we don't have to
wait 20 years for it. But we need a transition mechanism in place.”

Notes

1. The Australian Energy [R]evolution full report scenario can be downloaded as a PDF. A summary is available.
2. The ‘A Just Transition to a Renewable Energy Economy in the Hunter’ report can also be downloaded.

Source: Greenpeace Media Release, 3 July, 2008