The Greens are promoting their plan to make NSW's electricity supply 100 percent renewable, citing the environmental, health and employment benefits for the Lyne electorate.
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Greens NSW MP John Kaye will be in Taree and Port Macquarie this Saturday 17 August to talk about the party’s plans for a 100% renewable energy future within 15 years.
Despite the propaganda from the coal seam gas industry and the big energy companies, Dr Kaye will be explaining why all fossil fuels and new transmission lines are unnecessary for keeping the lights on and growing the economy.
Dr Kaye, who will be joined by Ian Oxenford who is contesting the seat of Lyne in the upcoming federal election for the Greens, will outline how a transition to 100% clean green energy technologies will benefit the communities on the Mid North Coast.
Greens candidate for Lyne, Ian Oxenford said: "The gas industry's multi-million dollar pre-election propaganda offensive pretends that renewables can be little more than a boutique energy supply.
"Nothing could be further from the truth.
"Switching off fossil fuels is not only possible. It is also affordable and essential, particularly for the Mid North Coast.
"The evidence is now in. NSW does not need coal or gas to keep the lights on and run a healthy economy.
"Both Labor and the Nationals are denying the Mid North Coast the benefits of a clean energy future.
"There are tens of thousands of new local jobs waiting to be created in installation, maintenance, development, marketing and manufacture that will never happen unless both state and federal governments commit to 100 percent renewables.
"The grip of the coal and gas industries on the political process has to be broken and neither Kevin Rudd nor Tony Abbott is prepared to do it.
"The Greens at all levels of government want to see the region prosper and the jobs created.
"The stark choice between coal seam gas mining or massive costly transmission lines and solar power and energy efficiency should remind voters of what is at stake in the federal election," Mr Oxenford said.
Greens NSW MP John Kaye who is in Lyne on Saturday campaigning with Mr Oxenford, said: "The planet is running out of time to exit fossil fuels and take the pressure off the climate.
"Gas is an expensive and dangerous distraction.
"Substituting gas for coal would at best cut NSW's electricity industry's emissions by 50 percent but on a global scale that is nowhere near enough to stop runaway climate change.
"Any delay in the transition to a 100 percent renewable electricity will have unacceptable consequences for the planet and for the future of employment in Lyne.
"Solar power, sustainable crop waste biomass and energy efficiency are big employers. Pushing the change rapidly lays the basis for a jobs-rich export industry.
“Both the major parties are captured by the fossil fuel lobby.
"The next federal election is make or break for the climate and for jobs in this electorate," Dr Kaye said.