Clean energy alternatives to coal

In many parts of Queensland currently under threat from coal mining and gas extraction, the community is not waiting for government action on climate change. Instead, they are working to develop alternative pathways for future energy and food security that are not dependent upon coal. One inspiring example is evident in the Felton Valley, where the community has developed a renewable energy plan for an area which is under threat from a proposed open cut coal mine.

Sustainable Energy Systems consultant Trevor Berrill was commissioned by Friends of Felton to carry out a study of the renewable energy potential of the area, as an alternative to coal development. The Friends of Felton see this as an opportunity to rally support at the community level for a just transition approach to the region's future.

The community of Felton, 30km southwest of Toowoomba, Qld, is fighting to prevent a proposal by Ambre Energy to build a large open-cut coal mine and petrochemical plant to convert the coal into liquid fuel.

The report says the Felton Valley has a number of attributes that make it suitable for development as a smart, distributed grid area, including:

• Access to good renewable energy resources of both wind and solar energy,
• Potential hydro storage/power sites,
• Potential usable land area that doesn’t conflict with current food production on fertile soils,
• Access to large and small electrical system transmission and distribution lines,
• A supportive community looking for an alternative to coal mining,
• Proximity to a major growth corridor in SE Queensland.

The report reveals that Felton has higher levels of solar radiation than southern Spain, a major global solar power region.

Recent data released by the Bureau of Meteorology shows that Australia is already feeling the effects of climate change. Every decade since the 1950s has been hotter than the one before. At the same time, our population is forecast by the Government to increase from 22 million now to 36 million by 2050, giving rise to concerns about possible food shortages in the future.

Renewable Energy at Felton is clearly a much better option than coal mining. It would protect the quality and quantity of food production capacity, the environment, and the community. It would produce clean power and provide lots of new jobs. This example could be replicated across the country, and provide a significant reduction in carbon emissions.

The report demonstrates how the multiple objectives of a just transition and a reduction in our coal dependence can be achieved in tandem.

You can download the Felton Valley Sustainable Energy Plan here.

Find out more about the campaign to save the Felton Valley here.