Local green groups have denounced the decision by Federal Labor and the Abbott Government to slash the Renewable Energy Target and have raised concerns the legislation does not ban the burning of native forest biomass.
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"NSW's clean energy sector has been shafted,” Bellingen’s Environment Centre’s spokesperson, Caroline Joseph said.
"The Abbott Government is also pushing ahead with its plans to inflict yet further damage on the State's native forests by allowing generators using so-called waste to be eligible under the RET scheme.
"This is a direct subsidy for the destruction of the forests and the creation of yet more greenhouse gases. Native forest biomass is neither clean nor climate friendly.
“BEC is committed to saving what remains of our native forests … both the Federal and NSW Coalition are working together to forensically remove environmental protection laws at all levels and the cost will be to our invaluable and significant koala colony and threatened species.
“We want to advance and develop the solar power industry as a vital answer to our economic prosperity.”
Joining Ms Joseph in condemnation was the North East Forest Alliance’s Dailan Pugh.
Mr Pugh said he was concerned burning trees, which have been storing carbon for decades, will result in high CO2 emissions as well as damage to biodiversity, soils and water catchments.
“Burning trees is not carbon neutral,” Mr Pugh said.
“The best thing we can do to ameliorate climate change is to leave our recovering forests alone so that they can take-up and store ever increasing volumes of carbon as they mature.
“Feeding trees into furnaces for power is just as polluting and environmentally damaging as coal. This needs to be clearly ruled out as a substitute for genuinely renewable power such as solar and wind.”
Both Ms Joseph and Mr Pugh said they call on Premier Mike Baird to ban native forest biomass in NSW to protect the State's remaining forests from loggers keen to cash in on the RET.