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Member for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly said Australia could be completely powered by renewable energy by the year 2032. The Labor MP said a recent survey of the electorate found 80 per cent of respondents feel renewable energy is an important election issue. He said support and incentives for industry are necessary to help reduce carbon emissions, and said power efficiency and conservation are critical to helping reduce skyrocketing power bills. “All of our coal fire power stations are decrepit and nobody is investing, so we are at a tipping point now where if a target is set the coal will disappear,” he said. “Two out of four coal power stations broke down in the heat last summer and it was only Snowy Hydro and load shedding that prevented a black out in the region. “Even if you don’t believe in climate change we need cleaner energy. “Renewables will also be a massive boon for the area, and it’ll be great for the Port of Eden for example where equipment will be brought in.” NSW Liberal Senator Jim Molan said the government’s plan to ban “sneaky late payment penalties”, create a price safety net, and back “investment in reliable generation” will help lower residential power bills. “We will take a big stick to the big energy companies to stop the big rip offs,” he said. Mr Molan slammed the idea of renewable energy and emissions reduction targets. “This reckless policy will damage the local economy and be paid for by every energy user in the country,” he said. Clean Energy for Eternity president Matthew Nott said it has become cheaper to build a new wind farm than continue to run an existing coal fired power station. “I recently heard a Republican mayor in California say future generations will have a lower life expectancy due to climate change, and that’s coming from a Republican,” the orthopaedic surgeon said. “The only way to fix this is with a revolution because the political system is too slow.” The organisation is pushing for a shire-wide target of 100 per cent renewable energy by the year 2030, which is backed by Dr Kelly.

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