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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 6 Hansard (16 May) . . Page.. 1748 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

Actew's ongoing commitment to environmental considerations is clear from its most recent statement of corporate intent, which lists as one of its values maximising the environmental benefit of its asset management and service provisions functions. Actew and ActewAGL are well advanced in incorporating sustainability issues into their business activities. They believe they are the industry leaders. They value safe and environmentally friendly practices, and strive to provide energy, water and sewerage services in the best possible way.

ActewAGL, like Actew before it, is at the forefront of environmental management. In the water and sewerage business, it meets and exceeds every relevant standard for drinking water quality and effluent discharge. The energy network's business also achieves compliance with all operational and environmental standards and requirements. ActewAGL annually publishes an environmental report, and has placed its environment action program for the future on the public record.

ActewAGL promotes the use of green energy to all its customers through its GreenChoice program. It is very heavily promoted. Over 3,800 customers choose to use green energy in their homes, and that number is growing. On behalf of Actew Corporation, ActewAGL operates a mini-hydro plant up there at Mount Stromlo. ActewAGL is also actively exploring the use of mini-hydros at all the dams, utilising environmental ways to generate power.

Firm plans are in place for a hydro plant at Googong Dam, and other sites are being investigated. ActewAGL is even looking at putting a hydro station on the outlet of the lower Molonglo sewage treatment plant, to generate power for use within the plant. We all hope that these investigations bear results.

ActewAGL continues to drive the establishment of photovoltaic solar generating systems. It has installed a number of systems on homes in the ACT, and supported the establishment of the Campbell High School solar energy system. It is leading discussions with equipment manufacturers, installers and the like, and other government agencies, to try to increase the commercial potential of solar energy.

It is also active in pursuing the development of wind generation in the ACT region. It has undertaken detailed analysis of wind resources, and a number of potential wind resource sites have been identified. ActewAGL is planning to install wind monitoring stations in the ACT region shortly, to further define wind resources.

ActewAGL is a foundation purchaser of the output of two biogas plants in the ACT. Located in Mugga Lane and Belconnen tips, these plants can produce one megawatt each of green energy, which is then sold.

The list goes on-effluent recycling. The effluent from ActewAGL sewerage plants is recycled where practical, for use in irrigation. Material from the lower Molonglo plant is used on a vineyard and a golf course, while clean effluent from the Fyshwick plant is used for playing fields and gardens in North Canberra.

I am sure members have observed that ActewAGL widely promotes the sensible use of our water supplies, through advertising and providing advice to customers. The Xeriscape garden, at the Weston campus of the CIT, is much visited and produces very

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