Energy Saving News
Western Australia Misses Out on $50 Million from Energy Saving
THE Western Australia (WA) Government has been criticised for wasting $50 million dollars on energy after an audit discovered they had failed to meet energy reduction targets.
The Energy Smart Government program started in 2002 and set a target of reducing energy use by 12 per cent within five years, but an audit has revealed they reduced next to nothing!
Colin Murphy, the Auditor General, discovered that WA Government agencies reduced their energy use by a staggering 0.1 per cent, this lack of energy efficiency means they have missed out on a potential $50 million worth of savings.
Peter Verstegen, of the Conservation Council, bemoaned that this money could have been used to further combat climate change:
"Instead of wasting 50 million dollars on energy that nobody uses they should be putting that towards tackling climate change and getting serious about the need to reduce West Australia's carbon pollution.
"This Government really needs to start taking the issue of carbon pollution and energy use much more seriously."
WA’s Energy Minister Peter Collier stated that $600,000 has been allocated in this year’s budget for energy efficiency and that they have scrapped the program which set the original targets.
"We actually stopped funding at the end of 2009 and we were firmly of the opinion, the belief, that it wasn't producing the best outcomes in terms of energy efficiency.
"The Government is of the opinion that a more holistic, comprehensive approach to energy efficiency is needed and that's why we allocated $600,000 in this year's budget to develop a plan which will incorporate all areas of the community, that is Government, industry and householders."
Collier stated an announcement about what any new plan will involve will be made later this year.
Provided by the Parliament of Western Australia
Thursday 1st July 2010
