CEO's Welcome

Welcome to the second edition of Powering On.  2009 has brought with it challenges and opportunities to many in business. 

We speak with the Federal Treasurer, the Hon Wayne Swan MP, to hear first hand about how the Government is tackling the major issues confronting the economy, the budget and the business community.

On the subject of carbon pollution, we feature a report on a recent international carbon debate in New York, which examined the controversial proposition that “major reductions in carbon emissions are not worth the money”.  It’s a topic that always sparks fierce debate, and you may be surprised by some of the arguments and the outcome of the debate.

At ERM, we do believe in investing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon intensity.  We’re spending several billion dollars creating environmentally friendly gas-fuelled energy hubs in New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland, in order to meet Australia’s projected demand for electricity in the years ahead.  With around half the carbon emissions of traditional generation, these hubs will go a long way to helping Australia meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets.

This edition of Powering On also features an article about a major environmental award won by ERM Power and Smithbridge, for our work on the NewGen Kwinana Power Station in Western Australia.

Our regular Market Watch feature looks at recent trends in energy prices, and movements in electricity contract prices in various states.

It also examines recent developments in the market for renewable energy certificates and gas energy certificates.

We hope you find your newsletter useful and interesting.  Please contact us at sales@ermpower.com.au if you have any comments or suggestions for future editions.  And please feel free to forward this to any of your colleagues, business contacts or friends you believe would benefit from it.

Despite the gloom that seems to be omnipresent in media reports these days, we hope that you, your clients and contacts can, and do, continue Powering On.

Mitch Anderson
Chief Executive
ERM Power Retail