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Labor to push total green energy

Gareth ThomasAlbany Advertiser
WA Labor leader Mark McGowan says Albany could be become completely powered by renewable energy.
Camera IconWA Labor leader Mark McGowan says Albany could be become completely powered by renewable energy. Credit: Laurie Benson Albany Advertiser

WA Labor leader Mark McGowan said he would like to see Albany solely powered by renewable energy sources if his party was to win the State election.

McGowan made the statement during a visit to the city yesterday where he announced Labor’s Plan for Albany with local member Peter Watson.

The announcement included about $112 million worth of commitments, including a $6 million pledge to the Great Southern Motorplex, matching the Nationals’ commitment made earlier this month.

Mr McGowan said he would take $19.5 million already budgeted for the now shelved Bunbury to Albany gas pipeline project and put it into a wave energy project to turn Albany into a “renewable energy city”.

Wave energy company Carnegie Clean Energy has been identified by Mr McGowan as the most likely proponent of Labor’s wave energy project after demonstrating success with the technology off the coast of Garden Island.

About 80 per cent of the energy needs for Albany already come from renewable sources and Mr McGowan said he wanted to increase that to 100 per cent.

“Of course, with the back-up of the transmission lines,” he said.

“A town like Albany can be a showcase to the world, the renewable energy sources here with solar, wind, wave and biomass are almost without peer.”

The package also committed $35 million to “kick start” the Albany ring road project and a further $30 million flagged for upgrades to the South Coast Highway.

Local schools did not miss out, with $ 3million set aside for upgrades to My Lockyer Primary School and a commitment to rebuild the early childhood centre at Flinders Park Primary School.

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