Dr Mark Diesendorf told a forum of 100 people at Moruya on Sunday that roadblocks were political and institutional and that "we have the technology to provide 100% renewable electricity that is economic and reliable."
"This will allow further uses for electricity for vehicles, heating and cooling and is essential to bring down Australia’s rising carbon emissions.
Dr Diesendorf said "The highest priority projects were local pumped hydro projects alongside wind and solar farms to provide firm power delivery as it was needed.
"Upgraded transmission links are needed to get Queensland renewable electricity into NSW and to connect the potentially huge Northern Tablelands Renewable Energy Zone to the main NSW grid in the Hunter Valley. Dr Mark Diesendorf told the forum the Snowy 2.0 was the wrong project for renewables
"The Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project could prolong the life of coal fired power unless the government acted to close coal stations. The Tasmanian proposed second Bass Strait electricity cable would not be economic without an early shut down of coal power stations."
Dr Diesendorf is an Honorary Associate Professor in the Environmental Humanities Group at the University of NSW and was the founding director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology, Sydney and has written and presented on the need for action on climate change.
A question from the audience asked whether the business case for Snowy 2.0 took account of climate change and the likelihood of more droughts in future. The response was that the business case for Snowy 2.0 has not been released.
Above: One hundred people packed St Mary’s Performing Arts Hall for the forum on 1.5 degrees of global warming hosted by 350 Eurobodalla last Sunday to listen to Dr Mark Diesendorf.
