Moves by NSW Premier Nathan Rees to fast-track planning for large wind farms is a small step forward but does nothing to help household and community-scale renewable energy projects, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: “The Rees government is focused on large wind projects which certainly have an important role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“However the Premier continues to squander opportunities to work with households and local communities to build a large number of smaller wind and solar generators.

“Nathan Rees is happy to lay out the red carpet for projects over 30 megawatt but has done nothing for the much smaller developments that can make a massive contribution both to jobs and to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (more…)

The Rees government is using its extraordinary planning powers to push through a proposed wood-fired power plant at the Eden chipmill in the state’s South-East, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: “NSW Planning Minister Kristina Keneally has used Part 3A of the state’s Environmental Planning and Assessment Act to take over the approval of the proposed Eden biomass generator without full public scrutiny.
 
“The Minister will be able to ignore public comments. The developers will potentially escape the need to prepare a full environmental impact statement.
 
“South East Forest Exports, the multinational corporation behind the power station plan, is desperately trying to increase the profits it makes from the state government’s massive subsidies to its export woodchip operation.
 
“The Minister has given herself the power to approve the plan and extend the damage that mill is wreaking on south coast native forests and the wildlife they support. (more…)