Thanks to everyone who endorsed our call to the Government for renewable energy expertise to be included on the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission.
Great news! Renewables expert and entrepreneur Eytan Lenko, CEO of Beyond Zero Emissions, was announced as a member of the Commission. Well known as a clean-energy transition advocate, Eytan was one of the driving forces behind our joint report with BZE, the 10 Gigawatt Vision.
“I look forward to working with the other Committee members on the Commission and bringing the insights and experience of our organisation to the table,” Eytan said.
Lyndon Frearson, Managing Director of Ekistica, also has strong renewable energy credentials and was announced as a member of “Team Territory”. Team Territory members are tasked with advising the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission on its work, ensuring its recommendations can deliver jobs and investment for the Territory.
They will sit alongside bigwigs from the oil and gas industries. And this week, Chief Minister Michael Gunner outlined his vision for the NT as Australia's manufacturing capital: powered by solar and using gas as a raw material.
This is captured in initiative seven of a green paper on the Territory Government’s economic recovery strategy (called “Operation Rebound”): a petrochemical manufacturing hub powered on solar, located in the Middle Arm precinct to the south of Darwin Harbour.
The Environment Centre NT endorses plans to capitalise from the Territory's incredible solar resources, delivering zero-emission, low-cost electricity, to power a local manufacturing industry. However, we have strong concerns about what role a fossil fuel will play in this vision for the NT.
Gas is a volatile industry that is vulnerable to shocks in the global energy market and has a concerning track record of water and air pollution and carbon emissions - whether as an energy source or a feedstock.
Our report the 10 Gigawatt Vision shows many types of manufacturing could be drawn to the NT by cheap renewable energy. This includes battery assembly, racks for solar panels and power cables vital to renewable energy industries.
The Northern Territory has the potential to be a major global exporter of renewable energy. The 10 Gigawatt Vision calculated annual exports of hydrogen, electricity and minerals processing could be worth over $2 billion per year by 2030.
If you want to endorse a truly sustainable economic recovery for the NT contact send your local NT election candidates our report, the 10 Gigawatt Vision and support our solar-powered economic recovery plan that will grow jobs for Territorians.
Support our solar-powered economic recovery plan