❓ WA Minister for Energy confirms international interest in WA's renewable energy technologies and criticises the Commonwealth government's greenhouse gas emissions reporting legislation for hindering state efforts to manage emissions.
AnsweredQoN 379Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES - INTERNATIONAL INTEREST
Has any international interest been shown in Western Australia’s rapidly expanding suite of renewable energy technologies? Mr F.M. LOGAN
Has any international interest been shown in Western Australia’s rapidly expanding suite of renewable energy technologies? Mr F.M. LOGAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kingsley for that question. I can answer in the affirmative. Since the disaggregation of Western Power last year and the establishment of the wholesale energy market, I have spoken often in this place about the interest that has been shown by private companies in generating and selling power into the grid, including renewable energy companies that are coming to or emerging out of the industry in Western Australia. A significant amount of research and development is also being undertaken in this area. Members would know - they will have seen it on television - that WA company SeaPower Pacific Pty Ltd is trying to bring to commercial endeavour the wave energy machines that it has off Fremantle. Members will also know of Verve Energy’s multilayered, integrated wood processing plant at Narrogin and, of course, of the work being done by a professor at Murdoch University in extracting hydrogen from blue-green algae. These are all terrific Western Australian technologies that are close to commercialisation. Members will have heard the announcement yesterday that a consortium is looking to build a 40-megawatt biomass power plant at Bridgetown. This is another example of a renewable energy company that wishes to sell into the grid. In the north west, there is significant interest in the establishment of large-scale solar-power plants that would sell into the north west integrated system. It does not come as much surprise that people around the world are interested in what we are doing in Western Australia, particularly as renewable energy and biofuels represent one of the four key pillars of the beyond-the-boom strategy. CNBC, a large business channel network that is broadcast across the United States, Asia and Europe, sent representatives from its Singapore office to Western Australia last weekend to take up the story of research and development in Western Australia and also of the new market that is being created in Western Australia. They were particularly interested in the work of Verve Energy at Rottnest, with its world-first wind-diesel technology. This switching technology can be quickly turned from wind to diesel to allow for some base-load power. When the electricity is not being consumed on Rottnest, it is used to power the desalination plant, which allows the gathering of water on Rottnest for holidaymakers. It is fantastic, small-scale, world-first technology. That gives members some idea of what is being done in Western Australia. There is international interest in what is being done. However, it is a pity that the sort of enthusiasm shown by international business news channels is not shared by the commonwealth government. Unfortunately, I found out today that the commonwealth government - which, as we know, was a late and partial convert to the issue of climate change - is now frustrating the endeavours of states and territories. I will explain. At the Council of Australian Governments meeting in April 2007, all Australian governments agreed to an arrangement for reporting greenhouse gas emissions. Yesterday, the commonwealth introduced legislation that would require all companies that emit more than 25 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases each year to report those emissions to the commonwealth. Closer examination of the legislation that was introduced into the commonwealth Parliament in Canberra yesterday indicated that it may not be possible for states to manage greenhouse gas emissions or to monitor their performance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the new legislation almost entirely fetters the ability of the Western Australian government, for example, to require Western Australian companies to report greenhouse gas emissions to it or the public for any purpose. Of course, the effect of this new legislation is that it will stop state governments from introducing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by particular companies or organisations by monitoring greenhouse gas emissions. This is just another example of the commonwealth using its corporation powers to interfere with state government legislation and policies.
Mr F.M. LOGAN replied: I thank the member for Kingsley for that question. I can answer in the affirmative. Since the disaggregation of Western Power last year and the establishment of the wholesale energy market, I have spoken often in this place about the interest that has been shown by private companies in generating and selling power into the grid, including renewable energy companies that are coming to or emerging out of the industry in Western Australia. A significant amount of research and development is also being undertaken in this area. Members would know - they will have seen it on television - that WA company SeaPower Pacific Pty Ltd is trying to bring to commercial endeavour the wave energy machines that it has off Fremantle. Members will also know of Verve Energy’s multilayered, integrated wood processing plant at Narrogin and, of course, of the work being done by a professor at Murdoch University in extracting hydrogen from blue-green algae. These are all terrific Western Australian technologies that are close to commercialisation. Members will have heard the announcement yesterday that a consortium is looking to build a 40-megawatt biomass power plant at Bridgetown. This is another example of a renewable energy company that wishes to sell into the grid. In the north west, there is significant interest in the establishment of large-scale solar-power plants that would sell into the north west integrated system. It does not come as much surprise that people around the world are interested in what we are doing in Western Australia, particularly as renewable energy and biofuels represent one of the four key pillars of the beyond-the-boom strategy. CNBC, a large business channel network that is broadcast across the United States, Asia and Europe, sent representatives from its Singapore office to Western Australia last weekend to take up the story of research and development in Western Australia and also of the new market that is being created in Western Australia. They were particularly interested in the work of Verve Energy at Rottnest, with its world-first wind-diesel technology. This switching technology can be quickly turned from wind to diesel to allow for some base-load power. When the electricity is not being consumed on Rottnest, it is used to power the desalination plant, which allows the gathering of water on Rottnest for holidaymakers. It is fantastic, small-scale, world-first technology. That gives members some idea of what is being done in Western Australia. There is international interest in what is being done. However, it is a pity that the sort of enthusiasm shown by international business news channels is not shared by the commonwealth government. Unfortunately, I found out today that the commonwealth government - which, as we know, was a late and partial convert to the issue of climate change - is now frustrating the endeavours of states and territories. I will explain. At the Council of Australian Governments meeting in April 2007, all Australian governments agreed to an arrangement for reporting greenhouse gas emissions. Yesterday, the commonwealth introduced legislation that would require all companies that emit more than 25 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases each year to report those emissions to the commonwealth. Closer examination of the legislation that was introduced into the commonwealth Parliament in Canberra yesterday indicated that it may not be possible for states to manage greenhouse gas emissions or to monitor their performance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the new legislation almost entirely fetters the ability of the Western Australian government, for example, to require Western Australian companies to report greenhouse gas emissions to it or the public for any purpose. Of course, the effect of this new legislation is that it will stop state governments from introducing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by particular companies or organisations by monitoring greenhouse gas emissions. This is just another example of the commonwealth using its corporation powers to interfere with state government legislation and policies.
I thank the member for Kingsley for that question. I can answer in the affirmative. Since the disaggregation of Western Power last year and the establishment of the wholesale energy market, I have spoken often in this place about the interest that has been shown by private companies in generating and selling power into the grid, including renewable energy companies that are coming to or emerging out of the industry in Western Australia. A significant amount of research and development is also being undertaken in this area. Members would know - they will have seen it on television - that WA company SeaPower Pacific Pty Ltd is trying to bring to commercial endeavour the wave energy machines that it has off Fremantle. Members will also know of Verve Energy’s multilayered, integrated wood processing plant at Narrogin and, of course, of the work being done by a professor at Murdoch University in extracting hydrogen from blue-green algae. These are all terrific Western Australian technologies that are close to commercialisation. Members will have heard the announcement yesterday that a consortium is looking to build a 40-megawatt biomass power plant at Bridgetown. This is another example of a renewable energy company that wishes to sell into the grid. In the north west, there is significant interest in the establishment of large-scale solar-power plants that would sell into the north west integrated system. It does not come as much surprise that people around the world are interested in what we are doing in Western Australia, particularly as renewable energy and biofuels represent one of the four key pillars of the beyond-the-boom strategy. CNBC, a large business channel network that is broadcast across the United States, Asia and Europe, sent representatives from its Singapore office to Western Australia last weekend to take up the story of research and development in Western Australia and also of the new market that is being created in Western Australia. They were particularly interested in the work of Verve Energy at Rottnest, with its world-first wind-diesel technology. This switching technology can be quickly turned from wind to diesel to allow for some base-load power. When the electricity is not being consumed on Rottnest, it is used to power the desalination plant, which allows the gathering of water on Rottnest for holidaymakers. It is fantastic, small-scale, world-first technology. That gives members some idea of what is being done in Western Australia. There is international interest in what is being done. However, it is a pity that the sort of enthusiasm shown by international business news channels is not shared by the commonwealth government. Unfortunately, I found out today that the commonwealth government - which, as we know, was a late and partial convert to the issue of climate change - is now frustrating the endeavours of states and territories. I will explain. At the Council of Australian Governments meeting in April 2007, all Australian governments agreed to an arrangement for reporting greenhouse gas emissions. Yesterday, the commonwealth introduced legislation that would require all companies that emit more than 25 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases each year to report those emissions to the commonwealth. Closer examination of the legislation that was introduced into the commonwealth Parliament in Canberra yesterday indicated that it may not be possible for states to manage greenhouse gas emissions or to monitor their performance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the new legislation almost entirely fetters the ability of the Western Australian government, for example, to require Western Australian companies to report greenhouse gas emissions to it or the public for any purpose. Of course, the effect of this new legislation is that it will stop state governments from introducing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by particular companies or organisations by monitoring greenhouse gas emissions. This is just another example of the commonwealth using its corporation powers to interfere with state government legislation and policies.
It does not come as much surprise that people around the world are interested in what we are doing in Western Australia, particularly as renewable energy and biofuels represent one of the four key pillars of the beyond-the-boom strategy. CNBC, a large business channel network that is broadcast across the United States, Asia and Europe, sent representatives from its Singapore office to Western Australia last weekend to take up the story of research and development in Western Australia and also of the new market that is being created in Western Australia. They were particularly interested in the work of Verve Energy at Rottnest, with its world-first wind-diesel technology. This switching technology can be quickly turned from wind to diesel to allow for some base-load power. When the electricity is not being consumed on Rottnest, it is used to power the desalination plant, which allows the gathering of water on Rottnest for holidaymakers. It is fantastic, small-scale, world-first technology. That gives members some idea of what is being done in Western Australia. There is international interest in what is being done. However, it is a pity that the sort of enthusiasm shown by international business news channels is not shared by the commonwealth government. Unfortunately, I found out today that the commonwealth government - which, as we know, was a late and partial convert to the issue of climate change - is now frustrating the endeavours of states and territories. I will explain. At the Council of Australian Governments meeting in April 2007, all Australian governments agreed to an arrangement for reporting greenhouse gas emissions. Yesterday, the commonwealth introduced legislation that would require all companies that emit more than 25 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases each year to report those emissions to the commonwealth. Closer examination of the legislation that was introduced into the commonwealth Parliament in Canberra yesterday indicated that it may not be possible for states to manage greenhouse gas emissions or to monitor their performance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the new legislation almost entirely fetters the ability of the Western Australian government, for example, to require Western Australian companies to report greenhouse gas emissions to it or the public for any purpose. Of course, the effect of this new legislation is that it will stop state governments from introducing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by particular companies or organisations by monitoring greenhouse gas emissions. This is just another example of the commonwealth using its corporation powers to interfere with state government legislation and policies.
There is international interest in what is being done. However, it is a pity that the sort of enthusiasm shown by international business news channels is not shared by the commonwealth government. Unfortunately, I found out today that the commonwealth government - which, as we know, was a late and partial convert to the issue of climate change - is now frustrating the endeavours of states and territories. I will explain. At the Council of Australian Governments meeting in April 2007, all Australian governments agreed to an arrangement for reporting greenhouse gas emissions. Yesterday, the commonwealth introduced legislation that would require all companies that emit more than 25 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases each year to report those emissions to the commonwealth. Closer examination of the legislation that was introduced into the commonwealth Parliament in Canberra yesterday indicated that it may not be possible for states to manage greenhouse gas emissions or to monitor their performance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the new legislation almost entirely fetters the ability of the Western Australian government, for example, to require Western Australian companies to report greenhouse gas emissions to it or the public for any purpose. Of course, the effect of this new legislation is that it will stop state governments from introducing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by particular companies or organisations by monitoring greenhouse gas emissions. This is just another example of the commonwealth using its corporation powers to interfere with state government legislation and policies.
Mr F.M. LOGAN replied: I thank the member for Kingsley for that question. I can answer in the affirmative. Since the disaggregation of Western Power last year and the establishment of the wholesale energy market, I have spoken often in this place about the interest that has been shown by private companies in generating and selling power into the grid, including renewable energy companies that are coming to or emerging out of the industry in Western Australia. A significant amount of research and development is also being undertaken in this area. Members would know - they will have seen it on television - that WA company SeaPower Pacific Pty Ltd is trying to bring to commercial endeavour the wave energy machines that it has off Fremantle. Members will also know of Verve Energy’s multilayered, integrated wood processing plant at Narrogin and, of course, of the work being done by a professor at Murdoch University in extracting hydrogen from blue-green algae. These are all terrific Western Australian technologies that are close to commercialisation. Members will have heard the announcement yesterday that a consortium is looking to build a 40-megawatt biomass power plant at Bridgetown. This is another example of a renewable energy company that wishes to sell into the grid. In the north west, there is significant interest in the establishment of large-scale solar-power plants that would sell into the north west integrated system. It does not come as much surprise that people around the world are interested in what we are doing in Western Australia, particularly as renewable energy and biofuels represent one of the four key pillars of the beyond-the-boom strategy. CNBC, a large business channel network that is broadcast across the United States, Asia and Europe, sent representatives from its Singapore office to Western Australia last weekend to take up the story of research and development in Western Australia and also of the new market that is being created in Western Australia. They were particularly interested in the work of Verve Energy at Rottnest, with its world-first wind-diesel technology. This switching technology can be quickly turned from wind to diesel to allow for some base-load power. When the electricity is not being consumed on Rottnest, it is used to power the desalination plant, which allows the gathering of water on Rottnest for holidaymakers. It is fantastic, small-scale, world-first technology. That gives members some idea of what is being done in Western Australia. There is international interest in what is being done. However, it is a pity that the sort of enthusiasm shown by international business news channels is not shared by the commonwealth government. Unfortunately, I found out today that the commonwealth government - which, as we know, was a late and partial convert to the issue of climate change - is now frustrating the endeavours of states and territories. I will explain. At the Council of Australian Governments meeting in April 2007, all Australian governments agreed to an arrangement for reporting greenhouse gas emissions. Yesterday, the commonwealth introduced legislation that would require all companies that emit more than 25 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases each year to report those emissions to the commonwealth. Closer examination of the legislation that was introduced into the commonwealth Parliament in Canberra yesterday indicated that it may not be possible for states to manage greenhouse gas emissions or to monitor their performance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the new legislation almost entirely fetters the ability of the Western Australian government, for example, to require Western Australian companies to report greenhouse gas emissions to it or the public for any purpose. Of course, the effect of this new legislation is that it will stop state governments from introducing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by particular companies or organisations by monitoring greenhouse gas emissions. This is just another example of the commonwealth using its corporation powers to interfere with state government legislation and policies.
I thank the member for Kingsley for that question. I can answer in the affirmative. Since the disaggregation of Western Power last year and the establishment of the wholesale energy market, I have spoken often in this place about the interest that has been shown by private companies in generating and selling power into the grid, including renewable energy companies that are coming to or emerging out of the industry in Western Australia. A significant amount of research and development is also being undertaken in this area. Members would know - they will have seen it on television - that WA company SeaPower Pacific Pty Ltd is trying to bring to commercial endeavour the wave energy machines that it has off Fremantle. Members will also know of Verve Energy’s multilayered, integrated wood processing plant at Narrogin and, of course, of the work being done by a professor at Murdoch University in extracting hydrogen from blue-green algae. These are all terrific Western Australian technologies that are close to commercialisation. Members will have heard the announcement yesterday that a consortium is looking to build a 40-megawatt biomass power plant at Bridgetown. This is another example of a renewable energy company that wishes to sell into the grid. In the north west, there is significant interest in the establishment of large-scale solar-power plants that would sell into the north west integrated system. It does not come as much surprise that people around the world are interested in what we are doing in Western Australia, particularly as renewable energy and biofuels represent one of the four key pillars of the beyond-the-boom strategy. CNBC, a large business channel network that is broadcast across the United States, Asia and Europe, sent representatives from its Singapore office to Western Australia last weekend to take up the story of research and development in Western Australia and also of the new market that is being created in Western Australia. They were particularly interested in the work of Verve Energy at Rottnest, with its world-first wind-diesel technology. This switching technology can be quickly turned from wind to diesel to allow for some base-load power. When the electricity is not being consumed on Rottnest, it is used to power the desalination plant, which allows the gathering of water on Rottnest for holidaymakers. It is fantastic, small-scale, world-first technology. That gives members some idea of what is being done in Western Australia. There is international interest in what is being done. However, it is a pity that the sort of enthusiasm shown by international business news channels is not shared by the commonwealth government. Unfortunately, I found out today that the commonwealth government - which, as we know, was a late and partial convert to the issue of climate change - is now frustrating the endeavours of states and territories. I will explain. At the Council of Australian Governments meeting in April 2007, all Australian governments agreed to an arrangement for reporting greenhouse gas emissions. Yesterday, the commonwealth introduced legislation that would require all companies that emit more than 25 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases each year to report those emissions to the commonwealth. Closer examination of the legislation that was introduced into the commonwealth Parliament in Canberra yesterday indicated that it may not be possible for states to manage greenhouse gas emissions or to monitor their performance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the new legislation almost entirely fetters the ability of the Western Australian government, for example, to require Western Australian companies to report greenhouse gas emissions to it or the public for any purpose. Of course, the effect of this new legislation is that it will stop state governments from introducing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by particular companies or organisations by monitoring greenhouse gas emissions. This is just another example of the commonwealth using its corporation powers to interfere with state government legislation and policies.
It does not come as much surprise that people around the world are interested in what we are doing in Western Australia, particularly as renewable energy and biofuels represent one of the four key pillars of the beyond-the-boom strategy. CNBC, a large business channel network that is broadcast across the United States, Asia and Europe, sent representatives from its Singapore office to Western Australia last weekend to take up the story of research and development in Western Australia and also of the new market that is being created in Western Australia. They were particularly interested in the work of Verve Energy at Rottnest, with its world-first wind-diesel technology. This switching technology can be quickly turned from wind to diesel to allow for some base-load power. When the electricity is not being consumed on Rottnest, it is used to power the desalination plant, which allows the gathering of water on Rottnest for holidaymakers. It is fantastic, small-scale, world-first technology. That gives members some idea of what is being done in Western Australia. There is international interest in what is being done. However, it is a pity that the sort of enthusiasm shown by international business news channels is not shared by the commonwealth government. Unfortunately, I found out today that the commonwealth government - which, as we know, was a late and partial convert to the issue of climate change - is now frustrating the endeavours of states and territories. I will explain. At the Council of Australian Governments meeting in April 2007, all Australian governments agreed to an arrangement for reporting greenhouse gas emissions. Yesterday, the commonwealth introduced legislation that would require all companies that emit more than 25 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases each year to report those emissions to the commonwealth. Closer examination of the legislation that was introduced into the commonwealth Parliament in Canberra yesterday indicated that it may not be possible for states to manage greenhouse gas emissions or to monitor their performance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the new legislation almost entirely fetters the ability of the Western Australian government, for example, to require Western Australian companies to report greenhouse gas emissions to it or the public for any purpose. Of course, the effect of this new legislation is that it will stop state governments from introducing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by particular companies or organisations by monitoring greenhouse gas emissions. This is just another example of the commonwealth using its corporation powers to interfere with state government legislation and policies.
There is international interest in what is being done. However, it is a pity that the sort of enthusiasm shown by international business news channels is not shared by the commonwealth government. Unfortunately, I found out today that the commonwealth government - which, as we know, was a late and partial convert to the issue of climate change - is now frustrating the endeavours of states and territories. I will explain. At the Council of Australian Governments meeting in April 2007, all Australian governments agreed to an arrangement for reporting greenhouse gas emissions. Yesterday, the commonwealth introduced legislation that would require all companies that emit more than 25 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases each year to report those emissions to the commonwealth. Closer examination of the legislation that was introduced into the commonwealth Parliament in Canberra yesterday indicated that it may not be possible for states to manage greenhouse gas emissions or to monitor their performance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the new legislation almost entirely fetters the ability of the Western Australian government, for example, to require Western Australian companies to report greenhouse gas emissions to it or the public for any purpose. Of course, the effect of this new legislation is that it will stop state governments from introducing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by particular companies or organisations by monitoring greenhouse gas emissions. This is just another example of the commonwealth using its corporation powers to interfere with state government legislation and policies.
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