Tasmanian Greens go national with Basslink campaign

by Janice Hamilton

Tasmanian Greens Energy spokesperson Nick McKim spent last week in Victoria 
lobbying against Basslink. The Greens are opposed to Basslink on the 
grounds of environmental impact, dubious economics and long term strategic 
implications for the State of Tasmania.

Basslink is a proposed 360 km, 600 megawatt electricity cable connecting 
Tasmania to the National Electricity Market. The National Electricity 
Market (NEM) is the wholesale market in electricity that allows energy 
companies to trade across State borders.

Specifically, Basslink would allow Victoria and other States that are part 
of the NEM to export electricity to Tasmania. It would also allow the 
export of hydro-electricity from Tasmania into the NEM. National Grid 
International Ltd (NGIL) has been selected by the Tasmanian Government to 
build, own and operate Basslink.

Mr McKim explained that Basslink is simply a "power-laundering scheme".

Tasmania's own "clean green" power would be sent to Victoria, along with 
power generated by feeding Tasmania's old growth forests into furnaces. In 
return they will import "dirty brown" coal power from Victoria.

Mr McKim said that the issue of burning Tasmanian forests to create power 
for Victoria is very topical, given Premier Bob Carr's recent announcement 
that the NSW Government is opposed to this.

The Victorian politicians, just like Mr Carr, will be keen to promote their 
environmental credentials in the lead-up to the state election.

Mr McKim says that Basslink is potentially catastrophic for Tasmania both 
financially and environmentally.

Hydro Tasmania, the State power company, is gambling around $70 million 
each year on Basslink, over the next 25 years. Forecasts show that they 
only have a 50 percent probability of breaking even. Any losses incurred 
will then have to be borne by the Tasmanian people.

It has been found that Basslink will negatively impact upon the Tasmanian 
Wilderness World Heritage Area, and that by doing so Basslink is illegal 
under the World Heritage Convention.

It is also estimated that the Basslink project will cause Australia to 
produce extra carbon dioxide emissions at the rate of one million tonnes 
per annum.

Mr McKim said that Basslink would be environmental disaster, an economic 
debacle, and a development which precludes a clean, green future for 
Tasmania.