'go Solar' - Greenpeace's Message To Queensland

'Go Solar' - Greenpeace's Message to Queensland
Ipswich, Saturday July 12, 2008, 8am: Two Greenpeace activists have abseiled over the side of the 140-metre high smokestack of the Swanbank B coal-fired power station and have begun painting the words "Go Solar" down it in massive letters.

Four activists stayed on the smokestack last night in near-freezing temperatures, continuing the occupation that began at first light yesterday as part of a peaceful protest to call for Australia to be powered by renewable energy.

Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Julien Vincent who is on top of the smokestack said it was a tragedy that Queensland, with the best solar resources in the world, was not a leader in the renewable energy industry.

"With the right policies in place, Queensland could be a developer and exporter of a zero-emission technology to other countries," Mr Vincent said.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, who told the Garnaut forum in Brisbane yesterday that when it comes to climate change Queensland has `a lot to do and a lot to lose', has visited a solar thermal plant in the United States.

"She knows what baseload solar thermal power can deliver it is time that she let the renewable energy industry deliver for the people of Queensland," Mr Vincent said. "By breaking the shackles of the coal industry and supporting renewable energy, Queensland could have a thriving new industry with tens of thousands of new jobs."

Queensland and Australia should look to Germany where the renewable energy industry employs a quarter of a million people.

The activists are determined to continue their occupation of the 37-year-old Swanbank B coal-fired plant as they call for a revolution in the way Australia produces its energy. Swanbank B is responsible for more than 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year equivalent to the annual pollution of 300,000 cars.

"We are committed to staying on the smokestack until our message is heard," Mr Vincent said. " But we are prepared to come down sooner if Prime Minister Kevin Rudd commits to closing Swanbank by the next election."

"If we are to avoid catastrophic climate change, we must urgently drive down our carbon emissions to safe levels," Mr Vincent said. "This will only be achieved if renewable power such as solar and geothermal replace dirty coal- fired power plants, like this one."

Thirteen activists entered the plant yesterday morning, but nine were arrested before they could ascend the stack.

As part of the Energy [R]evolution tour, the Greenpeace ship, the Esperanza, will be open for free public tours in Brisbane this weekend and will be promoting the benefits of renewable energy.

Contacts at Swanbank:
Louise Clifton, Media Officer
mo: 0438 204 041

Simon Roz, Campaigner
mo: 0408 011 177

Michelle Thomas, Audio Visual Coordinator
mo: 0404 096 556

Broadcast quality images and vision are available at http://www.greenpeacemedia.org Please enter the username: photos and the password: green

For more information about the Esperanza and the Energy [R]evolution, visit www.greenpeace.org.au/energyrevolution

SOURCE: Greenpeace Australia Pacific