Scrap ZeroGen scam Greens urge

The Queensland Greens are urging the Bligh Government to scrap the
much-touted ZeroGen project which supposedly will allow carbon dioxide
emissions from a coal-fired power station to be captured and stored
underground.

The Greens' call follows a recommendation from the independent Weller
review of government bodies which said the ZeroGen project should be wound
up.

Queensland Greens spokesperson Libby Connors said the Bligh Government was
now finding out what a scam the whole "clean coal" promise is.

"This project mirrors the FutureGen project in the United States,
initiated by the Bush Government in 2003 and scrapped in 2007 because of
cost overruns," Dr Connors said.

"We can build renewable energy power stations now that are
cost-competitive and will not require the huge subsidies similar to that
being given by the State Government to ZeroGen.

"The whole 'clean coal' push is simply designed to pander to the big
mining companies and the mining unions and will not stand up to any
rigorous financial test.

"If the coal companies want to put their money into such projects, they
should feel free to do so but the Queensland taxpayers should not be asked
to put their hands into their pockets as well," Dr Connors said.


Contact: Libby Connors 0429 487 110