NSW Government expands cloud seeding program
New South Wales, Australia - The Iemma Government has announced an expansion of the cloud seeding trial in the NSW Snowy Mountains, which is showing great potential to benefit electricity consumers, irrigators, skiers and the environment, Minister for Energy Ian Macdonald said today.
The decision extends the program to 2014 and expands the current target area by approximately 1,000 square kilometres.
Minister Macdonald said the research project conducted by Snowy Hydro Limited, which began in 2004, aims to determine the effectiveness of cloud seeding for increasing natural snowfalls and inflows to storages of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
“This is a true scientific research project which will have significant benefits for NSW and the Murray Darling Basin,” he said.
“The original six-year trial will be extended in geographical area and also operate for a further five years, up to and including the winter of 2014.
“Minor legislative amendments to the Snowy Mountains Cloud Seeding Act 2004 (the Act) will be made including amendments to the Environmental Management Plan, to ensure the expansion of the trial occurs in an environmentally-safe manner.
“The Environmental Management Plan has been enhanced to include additional reporting and monitoring procedures.
“If the trial continues to fulfil its potential, it means we will have more renewable hydroelectricity and less carbon dioxide in the environment.
“Cloud seeding generators will be excluded from wilderness areas, just like in the current trial.
“I have seen first-hand the technology involved in this trial and this is an exciting development for NSW.”
Member for Monaro Steve Whan welcomed the decision which he says will benefit the local ski industry and the alpine environment.
“More snow cover in Kosciuszko National Park will help reverse the adverse effects of long-term climate change on the alpine region of NSW,” Mr Whan said.
“A recent survey of 500 local residents found 89% were aware of the cloud seeding trial and 78% supported an expansion of the project.”
Minister Macdonald said the method used in the current trial involves dispensing very small amounts of silver iodide and an inert tracing agent into winter storm clouds.
“This causes changes to occur within the cloud, resulting in additional snowfall which would otherwise not have fallen,” he said.
“Cloud seeding commences when suitable climatic conditions occur over the mountains from May to September each year.
“During the warmer part of the year, the cloud seeding machinery is removed from sites in and around Koscuiszko National Park.”
Mr Macdonald said Snowy Hydro had already committed $20 million over the life of the trial.
“The extended duration will allow Snowy Hydro time to build, set up and test new equipment and to undertake a more statistically-significant experiment,” he said.
“The target area for the original trial is within the Kosciuszko National Park and part of the major catchment area of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme.
“This expansion will extend the current target area to the north, doubling the size of the trial area to approximately 2,250 square kilometres.”
Friday, May 02nd 2008 @ 07:52 AM.
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