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Positive response on biomass generationThe Member for Eastern Victoria, Philip Davis, says recent changes to federal and state government policy have cleared the way for energy generation using forest waste in East Gippsland. By Kevin Balshaw - 10th February 2010 - Back to News The Member for Eastern Victoria, Philip Davis, says recent changes to federal and state government policy have cleared the way for energy generation using forest waste in East Gippsland.
In Parliament at the end of last year Mr Davis asked the Victorian Government to introduce a policy including initiatives to support the establishment of biomass projects.
The Government’s formal response, tabled in Parliament this week, says it supports renewable energy including bioenergy, recognising it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create large numbers of skilled jobs and provide a sustainable supply of energy.
Mr Davis said in the meantime the new Victorian timber industry strategy had committed support for a national approach to the use of native forest wood waste for energy production, consistent with the Federal Government’s expanded Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme.
He said the two keys to the supportive approach to biomass generation were expansion of the national RET with an objective to produce 20% of Australia’s energy supply from renewable sources by 2020 and the passing of legislation at the end of last year to transition Victoria’s RET scheme into the national scheme from later this year.
Accordingly, the timber strategy provides that native forest wood waste can now be used for renewable energy generation in Victoria subject to appropriate carbon accounting and provided the waste is a by-product of timber industry harvesting.
In its response to Mr Davis, the Government says it is actively promoting bioenergy through the Victorian Bioenergy Network, and its Regional Development Victoria agency is encouraging bioenergy projects in country areas.
Additionally, the expanded national RET scheme provides that wood waste is an eligible renewable energy source.
Mr Davis believes the development of a biomass generator is a real prospect for Orbost.
"The far East Gippsland region, centred on Orbost, would stand to benefit significantly from the economic activity, additional skilled jobs and more reliable electricity supply arising from the establishment of a biomass generator," he said.
"A biomass plant would use waste from harvesting for the timber industry. It would also serve to reduce Victoria’s greenhouse gas emission, given that biomass produces only a fraction of the emissions of generators using fossil fuels.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: kevin.balshaw@parliament.vic.gov.au
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