Tasmanian community members concerned about the state's reliance on
imported dirty brown coal will attend the offices of Hydro Tasmania in
Hobart on Friday 17th July to express their concern over the use of fossil fuels
and to call for a rapid transition to 100% renewable energy.

Protesters will point towards the large screen in the foyer of Hydro
Tasmania's head office that displays the amount of electricity
currently entering the state through Basslink

"Despite the widely held belief that Tasmania's energy already comes
from renewables, the state actually imports vast amounts of dirty
brown coal power each year. We urge people to come down and see for
themselves just how much we rely on coal power," said Susan Austin
from Climate Action Hobart.

"It doesn't have to be this way. Tasmania has a unique opportunity to
lead the way in Australia and consistently export clean green energy
north to Victoria across Basslink, instead of the current situation of
importing much of our power from dirty brown coal each year," Ms
Austin said.

The science has already made it clear that we need to move away from
carbon intensive power generation. A report issued this week by Beyond
Zero Emissions the 'Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan'
shows that it is achievable and affordable for Australia to reach 100%
renewable energy in ten years.

"We are very excited about the opportunities outlined in this detailed
blueprint, and we call on the state government to give the plan its
full support," Ms Austin said.

Around the country on July 17, Climate Action groups will be holding
co-ordinated community events calling on governments to ban the
establishment of new coal power plants, shut down Hazelwood power
station in Victoria - the dirtiest in the country, and begin a push
towards a 100% renewable-energy society.

Climate Action Hobart is calling on the Tasmanian government and Hydro
Tasmania to stop importing power from the dirtiest coal power plants
in the country, to increase the renewable energy generating capacity
of our state and to move rapidly towards a Zero Carbon power supply.

In addition the Government needs to act to reduce our energy use,
increase efficiency and end the subsidies to the heaviest energy
users.

"For a safe future, we need strong action on Climate Change, and we
need it now," concluded Ms Austin.