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While Copenhagen teeters on the edge of being declared an ambition free zone, the Western Australian Premier, Colin Barnett, should celebrate his tenth anniversary of ambitious leadership in renewable energy, according to the Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association (WA SEA). As the world's nations meet in Copenhagen for the 15th UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP15), politicians have so far failed to respond to the concerns of their constituents and endorse a strong response from all world Governments. In a press release ten years ago dated 18 December 1999, Mr Barnett said "the State Government already had a strong commitment to the development of renewable energy sources, with solar, wind, hydro and landfill power generation projects operating around the State." Mr Barnett's press release of ten years ago also announced the progress of the 20 MW Albany wind farm, which when commissioned in 2001 was for several years Australia's largest wind farm. Commenting from Copenhagen, Prof Ray Wills, Chief Executive of WA SEA, said ‘businesses here at Copenhagen are ready for action, want market certainty to drive investment, but we are all still waiting for firm decisions by Governments.' ‘The Premier one decade on has a unique opportunity to continue his support for renewable energy in Western Australia and, together with Energy Minister Peter Collier, positions the State to harvest its massive renewable energy resources and build a more sustainable Western Australian economy,' says Prof Wills.
WA Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA) Media Release - 18 December 2009, From Copenhagen Editors notes:
1. Colin Barnett press release from 1999 as then Western Australian Minister for Energy http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=110896
2. Prof Wills was one of 50 CEOs and leaders to speak at the exclusive global business forum CLIMATE SPARK (www.climatespark.com) during COP15.
3. WA SEA members attending COP15 include the Hon. Cheryl Edwardes, Special Counsel with Minter Ellison Lawyers; Prof Paul Hardisty, Executive Director, EcoNomics, Sustainability with WorleyParsons; Vanessa Rauland of Curtin University's Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute; Peter Tickler, Principal of Greensense; Ken McAlpine, Policy and Government Relations Manager Asia-Pacific Region, Vestas Wind Systems; and Prof Ray Wills, Chief Executive of WA SEA.
4. Emissions on Prof Wills' flight to Copenhagen are carbon neutral, with the purchase of carbon offsets.
5. The Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA) is a chamber of enterprises has a growing membership of 260 industry members from a diversity of businesses, and the largest state-based industry body of its kind in Australia. www.wasea.com.au.
6. WA SEA bringing you the Energising WA Conference 22-24 March 2010, Perth. |
