Renewable Energy

Mr STEVE WHAN: My question is addressed to the Premier. Will the Premier update the House on renewable energy initiatives that add to the Government's efforts to secure the State's future energy supplies?

Mr George Souris: I want something good!

Mr Andrew Stoner: Tell us about Snowy Hydro!

The SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members will remain silent. I call the Leader of The Nationals to order for the second time.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: If the Leader of The Nationals asked me a question about Snowy I would be happy to outline Snowy for him—its plans for peaking power plants in New South Wales and its plans to expand elsewhere. As the member for Upper Hunter said, "Give me some good news", and I am pleased to do so: Australia's biggest, accredited, renewable energy contract, signed, sealed and delivered for the desalination plant. Our drought insurance policy that will secure Sydney's drinking water supplies for generations to come will be carbon neutral, with not one net kilo of CO₂ produced when it operates—once again delivering on the Government's commitment that the desalination plant will be powered 100 per cent by green energy.

In this case we will ensure that the vital water supplies will be there for the people of Sydney. Of course, we all remember the water policy of the Leader of The Nationals in the lead-up to the election when he said he would wait for Sydney to become a Sahara desert before he would build a desalination plant. I inform the member that Babcock and Brown Wind Partners and Babcock and Brown Power Energy Markets have been selected as the preferred tenderers for the supply of renewable energy to the plant.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of The Nationals is having a conversation with himself. I call the Leader of The Nationals to order for the third time. Members will cease interjecting. The Premier has the call.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: To supply that renewable energy a new 63-turbine wind farm is being built at Bungendore, near Queanbeyan. Capital Wind Farm will increase the supply of wind power in New South Wales by more than 700 per cent, with a capacity of 132 megawatts, putting New South Wales at the forefront of the wind power industry. This is more evidence of the Government's commitment to renewable energy targets working. This is the biggest boost to the renewable energy industry ever. The wind farm is already under construction and will be completed before the desalination plant becomes operational. Capital Wind Farm will provide more than enough wind power to meet the desalination plant's energy requirements. Sydney Water will also become carbon neutral by 2020 and these contracts will be consistent with that commitment. As I mentioned, this is the biggest renewable, accredited energy contract ever.