POLICY INITIATIVE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY
Australia was once a clear world leader in all aspects of sugar cane culture. We have now fallen far behind other major sugar nations of the world.
This is due entirely to the lack of leadership from politicians and industry leaders.
More importantly, industry leaders and politicians have failed to comprehend that sugar cane is more valuable to our economy as a renewable energy source- providing a proven liquid fuel replacement for petrol and diesel engines.
Other nations have got on with developing this resource and as a result better placed to address the oil crisis. These countries are finding that ethanol production is now significantly cheaper than for unleaded petrol. In Brazil 9 million motorists are paying up to a third less for ethanol fuel than unleaded petrol and is the fuel of choice. From now on ethanol will always have a price advantage. Lower fuel costs have a flow on effect in the economy.
As we have seen, there is also a significant environmental advantage as well.
Our sugar cane industry is producing a product, namely sugar a sweetener that competes for sales on a world market that is often not a level playing field. The other reality is that we simply cannot compete with the rest of the world in production costs either.
World sugar prices and markets are just too unreliable to sustain a business plan. Currently growers are enjoying better prices which give them an unrealistic sense of hope. For the consumer this inevitably also means higher food costs fuelling inflation. World sugar prices and markets are just too unreliable to sustain a business plan.
This industry in its present form uses large quantities of oil based fuels and this impacts dramatically on operating costs.
In an ethanol only sugar cane industry all the liquid fuel requirements are sourced from ethanol and no oil based fuels are required. The price of oil based fuels inevitably will continue to rise and growers will continue to struggle if they continue as sugar producers..
I pledge to work to rebuild the sugar cane industry by establishing a pilot renewable energy industry in Hinkler using new technology to bring improved efficiency and productivity to ethanol production- to show how becoming a renewable energy industry can bring new opportunities to cane growers
I firmly believe that a renewable energy industry based on sugar cane will prove more profitable to cane farmers and bring wide ranging benefits to our community and ultimately the nation. A pilot renewable energy plant will provide the mechanism to prove this outcome.
It is so important to get the program moving without further delay.
If we continue to rely on oil based fuels, we cannot avoid an energy crisis and crippling high prices.
This country is so woefully unprepared for such an event.
Ethanol represents a viable replacement liquid fuel and a worthy contender in the battle to protect our environment. If elected I will work tirelessly to turn this situation around, to fast track development of a renewable energy industry based on sugar cane.
A renewable energy industry producing ethanol is by far the best opportunity to satisfy our motoring energy demands of the future.
The pioneering spirit of our forefathers built the once proud world reputation of our community.
Today we are more noted for poor health delivery and poor employment opportunities.
An underperforming sugar cane industry is the weak link in our local economy. A modern and efficient sugar cane industry is essential and possible. We must rediscover our pioneering spirit to realise the changes so urgently needed. This is an industry desperately in need of leadership to bring real reform.
SUGAR CANE. THE ULTIMATE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE.
A renewable energy industry can provide benefits and stability to more than just our own local economy.
The ailing sugar cane industry will not be the only beneficiary. It will give motorist and many industries access to an affordable alternative liquid fuel.
It will give our motoring manufacturing industry the time it needs for the smooth transition to new technology as we phase out the internal combustion engine.
The electric motor and necessary support infrastructure is still a couple of decades from reality. The transition to electricity will put enormous demands on a power system that is already under stress. If we are to safeguard our environment, the “green” generation of electricity is an important factor to consider.
Of all renewable energy forms currently available, a sugar cane based industry is a clear leader. Not only can it supply all of its production energy requirements (a modified ethanol fuel can also power diesel engines) but at the end of production, a surplus of co-generated electricity will be available to feed back into the grid.
Sugar cane is also an effective recycler of water. Sugar cane is 75% water and as such provides all the water requirements for ethanol/sugar production with a surplus at the end of the cycle. For every tonne of cane processed, 300 litres of excess water is available for agricultural or other industrial use.
Here we have a bio mass that supplies all of its own processing energy needs, with the capacity to provide energy in two separate forms- A liquid fuel replacement for our motor vehicles and electrical energy to supply back into the local grid. It also has a water capture capability to service its own processing needs and a surplus to top up agricultural or industrial demands.
Because this renewable energy has such a small carbon footprint the low carbon tax implications is a further plus.
Hinkler has all the ingredients to cook up a storm- all we need is leadership.
I invite you to join with me to help write another exciting chapter to the wonderful story of sugar cane and in the process build a strong local, recession proof economy. Imagine the benefits of having access to cheaper fuel for your motoring needs. Imagine the benefit of being able to choose when you are ready to switch to a new motoring technology.
Imagine how you can feel good about preserving your lifestyle while reducing the damage to our environment. This is a vision I plan to realise to leave a lasting legacy for our children. Give me a clear and unambiguous mandate to take to Canberra.
A VIRTUAL POWER STATION BASED ON SOLAR ENERGY
This is a proposition to install solar generators on every willing household in Hinkler. Participants will have the option to own outright the installation and benefit from credits from excess production or they might choose to rent with no upfront costs from the power company Ergon Energy. The benefits of being “independent” and owning your own generator are obvious.
The other advantage of developing such a scheme is that we make better use of what infrastructure we already have in place, such as transmission lines etc. No new land needs to be cleared or taken up, as would be required when new separate power stations are built. By commissioning such a project the scale will greatly reduce solar panel costs and installation. The project will deliver a massive boost to local employment and economy. These are real green local jobs and industry. All we need is a responsible Member of Parliament who can ensure that this project does not go the way of the botched insulation scheme introduced but mismanaged by Labor.
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