Fed: Clean coal will cause huge job losses - Brown

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2007
Fed: Clean coal will cause huge job losses - Brown

CANBERRA, Feb 14 AAP - A transition to clean coal technology as advocated by the federal
government would cause huge job losses and economic dislocation, the Australian Greens
say.

Technology such as geosequestration, whereby carbon emissions are stored below the
ground, was simply not feasible for Australian conditions, Greens Leader Bob Brown said.

Senator Brown last week proposed a plan be developed within a single three-year term
of government to phase out coal exports and reduce emissions in Australia.

Prime Minister John Howard dismissed the idea as destructive to Australian jobs and
profitability.

But Senator Brown said clean coal technology could not be used to convert Australia's
existing 35 power stations, all of which operate with coal-burning.

"Proponents of clean coal, such as the prime minister, never talk about the jobs it
will destroy," Senator Brown said.

"John Howard is effectively planning an end to the NSW coal industry as we know it.

"In the NSW Hunter Valley, for example, there are no feasible sites for storing CO2
(carbon) from a clean coal power station, even if someone knew how to build one.

"Workers at Eraring, Vales Point, Bayswater and Lidell power stations in NSW will all
lose their jobs in a clean coal technology future, as would the workers at coal mines
that provide coal to those power stations."

Senator Brown said Mr Howard had no plan to help the miners and communities into a
coal-constrained future.

AAP dep/sb/imc/cdh

KEYWORD: CLIMATE BROWN

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