Some say: So solar and other sustainable energy sources will never replace our present coal-reliant energy system, as they will never be able to provide big-scale energy supplies to feed our energy-hungry communities?

Don’t believe it – big solar is coming, and is already operating abroad. So why not in Australia?

To coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit, and to launch the United Nation’s International Year of Sustainable Energy for all, a unique event will be taking place in Manly next week.

Three experts in various areas of sustainable energy will be arguing that – despite the hype saying otherwise – sustainable energy can and will ultimately provide a solution to Australia’s energy needs and, at the same time, help rapidly reduce climate change-causing carbon emissions.

The speakers are:

• Mark Ogge, a director and co-founder of the Beyond Zero Emissions group, who will outline their campaign for changed attitudes, including Repowering Port Augusta, a proposal to replace that SA industrial city’s coal generators with baseload solar thermal supported by solar PV and wind.

• Dr Mark Diesendorf, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of UNSW’s Institute of Environmental Studies. He will present a talk on ‘A Sustainable Electricity Future for Australia’.

• Warren Yates from Clean Energy for Eternity, who will tell the story of how a community on the NSW far South Coast became committed to a plan to cut their energy use by 50%, and have renewable sources to provide 50% of the remaining energy needs by 2020. A key element of the plan was the building of a large community-owned solar farm at Bega.

The event is being hosted by the Friends of the Manly Environment Group (FoMEC), whose co-founder, Jodi Adams, says that “since the 1970s, I have been watching Australia fall further and further behind in the use of sustainable energy, while our experts in the field are increasingly forced to work overseas, where their skills and knowledge are respected and utilised.  This cannot be allowed to continue!”

The launch will take place from 7pm on Wednesday June 20th at the Steyne Hotel’s Moonshine Bar. It is free and open to the public but bookings are essential. To book, ring the Manly Environment Centre on 9976 2842 during business hours.