Friday, January 27

Greens urge gas limits for hospital

The Canberra Hospital's energy future could be heavily reliant on the bitterly divisive coal seam gas industry, according to the ACT Greens.

The cross-bench party has accused the ACT Government of basing its draft plan to power the redeveloped $800 million health facility too heavily on natural gas.

Greens' energy spokesman Shane Rattenbury say he is worried that the hospital could eventually be powered by gas extracted using the controversial ''fracking'' technique.

The Greens are demanding a Government commitment that coal seam gas will not be used at the built-in power plant planned for the hospital.

But Chief Minister Katy Gallagher says that no decisions have been made on the final make-up of the energy mix for the hospital.

The Government's gas supplier, ActewAGL, which is half-owned by the territory taxpayer, said yesterday that it had no interests in coal seem gas wells or exploration.


Canberra Times

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