[The following statement was released June 11, 2015 by the Repower Port Augusta campaign.]
The Repower Port Augusta Alliance has called for immediate action by the State Government to invest in building solar thermal in Port Augusta following Alinta鈥檚 surprise announcement that it will close its Port Augusta coal stations and the associated Leigh Creek mine by 2018.
鈥淎linta has taken the community by surprise with this announcement and our thoughts are with the workers and their families on this difficult day. Alinta had the opportunity to work towards a clean energy transition in Port Augusta, but instead it looks like they鈥檙e going to cut and run, so we need the State Government to step up鈥 Repower Port Augusta Alliance spokesperson Dan Spencer said.
鈥淛ay Weatherill must step in with urgent funding for solar thermal in Port Augusta, to create jobs in the wake of the huge job losses the closure of the coal station and mine will bring鈥.
鈥淎fter supplying power to the state for decades, Port Augusta deserves a managed transition to clean energy jobs. The community cannot be left high and dry by this鈥.
鈥淭here is strong international investor interest in building solar thermal in Port Augusta. The State Government needs to bring these people together, with the community to find a solution for jobs and clean energy in Port Augusta,鈥 Spencer said.