Greens ‘back’ bid for hot rock plant

Alex de Vos
The Greens have backed plans to create Victoria’s first renewable geothermal energy hub at Gherang, according to a party MP.
Greens MP Greg Barber said he “fully supported geothermal power, subject to environmental effects being minimised”.
Mr Barber said he planned to meet with the company behind the project, Greenearth Energy, for more information about the proposal.
However, Gherang resident Jamie McInnes said Mr Barber expressed his concerns about the local project during a visit to the region last month.
“The Greens are concerned about the adverse impact this development may have on the government-recognised threatened flora and fauna of the Gherang region and neighbouring Angahook-Lorne State Forest,” Mr McInnes said.
“Gherang residents are appreciative of the Greens’ ongoing scrutiny of this inappropriate geothermal development.”
Greenearth Energy’s Robert King welcomed the Greens’ support.
“They are pretty supportive and were interested in utilising the warm water before we put it underground for local industrialised opportunities,” he said.
Residents in opposition to the geothermal project fear the plant could contaminate drinking water and lead to other dangerous impacts such as earthquakes.
A geothermal project in Switzerland was shut down in 2006 when work was blamed for earthquakes that shook the nearby town of Basel.
Opponents say hot water from geothermal energy sources can also release dangerous chemicals including mercury, boron and arsenic.
The Independent revealed last year that the region was a “potential target” for geothermal power.
Greenearth Energy investigated the area for “wet hot rocks” beneath the ground to generate renewable, green energy. Initial tests found potential to produce 150 times more energy than Victoria uses in a year.
Tapping geothermal energy requires deep drilling into the Earth’s crust.