Opportunities abound: Investor Group on Climate Change chief executive officer Nathan Fabian in town for the clean energy forum.
THE clean energy boom will be felt in regional areas, a forum has heard.
About 160 people gathered at the Glasshouse last Thursday night to hear about the latest trends in renewable energy.
The Port Macquarie Clean Energy Forum heard from experts drawn from fields including the investment industry and renewable energy businesses.
Renewable energy company Pacific Hydro produces clean power from natural resources with interests in hydro, wind, solar and geothermal power.
Pacific Hydro’s general manager for Australia Lane Crockett spoke about renewable energy opportunities.
“We are blessed with abundant resources which can power a sustainable and safe future,” he said about Australia.
He said renewable energy was popular and it created green jobs.
“There are many more more jobs to be had thanks to the Clean Energy Future package,” Mr Crockett said.
The government bills the package as a comprehensive plan which will cut pollution and drive investment.
Australia’s biggest polluters will be required to pay for their pollution under the carbon pricing mechanism.
Pacific Hydro has recently called for a broad health review of all forms of power generation to determine the best mix for Australia, Mr Crockett said.
“This parliament has overseen one of the most transformational economic policies in our history,” he said. “Renewable energy is clean and safe, provides opportunities for regional areas, is popular with communities and good value.”
Investor Group on Climate Change chief executive officer Nathan Fabian said the group took the climate change science on face value.
He said the investor group thought opportunities would open up with the smart businesses which made changes after the carbon price was introduced.
“We think Australia has the policy framework right,” he said. “No one pays me to say that.”
The Investor Group on Climate Change represents institutional investors, with total funds under management of about $700 billion, and others in the investment community interested in the impact of climate change on investments.
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW and Australian Conservation Foundation held the Port Macquarie forum.
Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott supported the event.