Drysdale ‘first’ to zero in on renewable energy plan

KIM WATERS
BELLARINE Peninsula properties would benefit from a plan to run Australia on 100 per cent renewable energy in just nine years, according to climate change activists.
Clifton Springs’ Steve Williams said Beyond Zero Emissions would unveil its proposal for the first time in the Geelong region at Drysdale this weekend.
The presentation was “particularly important” for parts of the peninsula at risk of inundation from rising seas, he said.
“We stand to be affected with all our low-lying property and the rising sea levels that have been projected over the next 100 years are already happening.”
Mr Williams said Beyond Zero Emissions’ “award-winning research” identified solar thermal plants and wind farms as viable replacements for fossil fuel energy by 2020.
He explained solar thermal plants as arrangements of mirrors focussing sunlight to power steam turbines.
“We’d really, really like to see State Government put some money behind getting these plants up and running.”
Beyond Zero Emissions volunteer and presenter Euan Angus said peninsula residents would be first in the region to hear the plan.
“It’s like a road map for Australia to produce all of its base energy from 100 per cent renewable, emission-free sources,” he said.