There are many actions our governments could be taking to move to 100% renewable energy but one particularly symbolic action would be to commit to replacing Victoria’s Hazelwood coal-fired power station with clean energy by 2012. Hazelwood is very old, very dirty and very past its used by date. It produces a whopping 15% of Victoria’s greenhouse emissions and is also a big emitter of toxic pollutants linked to health problems like cancer, stroke, asthma, reproductive disorders etc.

Replacing Hazelwood with clean energy by 2012 is not just a pipe dream. Research has shown that it would be feasible to replace Hazelwood with a combination of energy efficiency measures, renewable energy and gas as a transition fuel. It can be done relatively inexpensively if there’s the social and political will.

There are plenty of signs the Albury-Wodonga region would back such a move. In early July Indigo Shire Council became the first local government in Australia to pass a motion to replace Hazelwood.

Residents are also keen to see the end of Hazelwood. This was evident on 17 July when locals gathered at La Trobe University as part of a national day of action on Hazelwood. Children and adults alike took great delight when a large cake replica of the power station burst into life. Steam spewed out of the cooling towers while a young band sang 'It's a long way to the top if we keep on burning coal'. Coverage by WIN television was converted into this lively youtube clip.