Four affordable measures so gaseous fuels can provide more clean reliable energy and protect local jobs
4 April 2019
Australia's peak body for downstream gaseous fuels,
Gas Energy Australia (GEA), has called on all Parties and Independents at the upcoming
Federal Election to commit to Australian gaseous fuels for cleaner, reliable energy and
to protect and create more local jobs.
GEA's 2019 Federal Election Statement urges the adoption of
four basic and affordable measures that will provide cheaper, reliable energy
for families and businesses, increase our liquid fuel security, reduce carbon
emissions cost effectively and provide greater freight transport productivity.
Chief Executive John Griffiths said the Statement wasn't
about asking the next Federal Government to choose between gas or renewables -
it was about making sure that the right energy and right technology co-existed
to provide reliable, affordable and low emission energy to all Australian
consumers.
"Families across
Australia could save up to $600 per year on their electricity bills just by
converting their existing electric hot water systems to gas. And more would
make the switch if the next Federal Government made gas water heaters eligible
for the same incentives as solar and heat pump water heaters," said Mr Griffiths.
"The benefits of
adopting this simple measure would not only reduce carbon emissions by
up to 25 per cent compared to traditional fuels - but every day Australians could also save hundreds
of dollars each and every year on their cost of living".
Gaseous fuels can also deliver
reliable, cleaner Australian power to regional, off-grid and edge-of-network
areas. There is
a strong economic and liquid fuel security case to explore the value and risk
mitigation of distributed energy options - including LPG, LNG and CNG - in a country as large
and regionalised as Australia.
"It is
ridiculous that many of these regional, off-grid and edge-of-network
communities are still dependent on imported diesel for power generation or they
have unreliable network access when at the same time our oil stocks are
inadequate," Mr Griffiths said.
LPG and
natural gas can do that localised generation job well - and over time - can
also be used to shift a portion of Australia's transport needs – including
heavy road and marine transport – from diesel to gas using technology, often
Australian developed, that is well established.
"Shifting
just 10% of our fuel use to cleaner Australian fuels would help our balance of
payments, reduce our fuel reserve requirements, be better for our local
environment, create local jobs - and in the case of many remote and rural
communities - would provide cleaner, more reliable Australian power options.
"That's why we are
calling on all Parties and Independents to adopt these four basic measures that
form a package that will deliver cheaper, reliable energy for Australian
families and businesses. They will also create more Australian jobs".
Media contact: John Griffiths 0439 344 622
File downloads
- Preview Gas Energy Australia (GEA) 2019 Federal Election Statement A3foldedA4 Internal Print FINAL (PDF 800.7 kb)
- Preview MEDIA RELEASE - Four affordable measures so gaseous fuels can provide more clean reliable energy and protect local jobs 050419 (PDF 107.4 kb)
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