As the national debate over clean energy heats up, Lamson Paragon’s Rodney Frost says everyone should take responsibility for their actions and ensure they are looking after the environment.
His comments come as Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who is on the record criticising wind turbines as unsightly, ordered the $10bn Clean Energy Finance Corporation not to finance new wind power or small-scale solar projects.
A row ignited from all corners of politics and environment groups with claims the decision will be a blow to the multibillion-dollar wind industry and dampen investor confidence.
Frost, general manager at Lamson Paragon, which recently received certification recognising its achievements through The Energy Savings Scheme, says everyone should do their part in looking after the environment.
Frost says, “When you look over the amount of land Australia has there are many opportunities for wind turbine farms.
“Assuming the turbines are not in anyone’s backyard and not having negative health and lifestyle impacts on the communities, I have no problems with wind turbines.”
The Lamson Group utilised the Energy Savings Scheme, a NSW government initiative designed to reduce electricity consumption in the state by creating financial incentives for organisations to invest in energy savings projects to reduce their carbon footprint.
Energy savings are achieved by installing, improving or replacing energy saving equipment and the Lamson Group achieved a reduction of 1520 megawatt hours of electricity; avoided 1611 tonnes of carbon emissions and with responsible recycling of old luminaries avoided mercury entering landfill.
Frost says, “Compared to the big corporations and mining companies we are a small company, but size is not the issue, it is how we treat the environment that matters.
“However small the gain, we all need to look after the future of our children and grandchildren.
“If incentives, which were available through the previous government, were still on the table I am sure people would think differently about their choices.
“But it is also important that we are not giving out handouts to businesses and increasing our national debt, which the Labor government increased dramatically.”
The Australian Greens say the Abbott government has run out of ways to destroy clean energy technologies and is now using stalling tactics, which will be to no avail.
The clean energy sector will gather in Sydney today for a two-day summit to deliberate the federal government’s decision to prevent the nation’s green bank to stop investing in wind and rooftop solar on top of slashing the renewable energy target (RET) a few weeks ago.
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