Betty asks when is the new microgrid happening, diesel costs out of control
Daintree Microgrid
Businesses north of the river are desperate for the proposed Hydrogen Microgrid grid to finally bring power to the Daintree, including 86 year old Betty Hinton.
Betty runs the Floravilla Ice Cream Factory on Cape Tribulation Road at Cow Bay and says diesel costs have risen so much, it's extremely hard to make ends meet.
The hard working Daintree stalwart told Newsport "I used to pay around $900 a month for my fuel, but now i get a bill for $2000 and of course there's the pollution in this magnificent rainforest caused by the millions of litres of diesel we burn"
Betty says everyone is facing a serious situation if the Hydrogen Microgrid project doesn't come off.
“I'm a firm believer in hydrogen and helping the planet so where is our grid?
Well Betty you're about to find out.
The Federal Government has allocated $19.3 million to start stage 1 construction of the Daintree microgrid project but things have been very quiet lately, in part due to the COVID Pandemic and border closures.
Federal Member Warren Entsch says he's been working for 25 years to shore up the supply of reliable and affordable energy for locals, reduce emissions, create jobs and bring high speed internet to the area and won't give up until it's done.
Mr Entsch has even put off retirement to fight another election to see this project through.
"There's been a lot of roadblocks put in our way but we now know when it will happen"
Mr Entsch has revealed to Newsport that the Microgrid will be officially signed off after the first sitting of Parliament around late February and early March, with hopefully some high powered politicians heading to the Daintree with him including Environment Minister Sussan Ley, Assistant Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Tim Wilson and if he can rope in the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, he'll be there too.
"Soon after that, work will commence" says the Member for Leichhardt "and people like Betty will have clean green power and fast internet which is their right"
Volt Advisory Group has been contracted for the implementation of the 100% renewable energy Daintree microgrid with a combination of Solar, a Battery Energy Storage System and Hydrogen supply.