10 February, 2017
The vacuum in energy policy is to blame for today’s power crisis
Today’s predicted blackout in NSW highlights the need for a new energy system that protects people and the planet, according to the Nature Conservation Council.
“Energy supply in NSW is under threat today because political leaders have failed to drag our electricity system from the coal-fired past into the renewable energy future,” Ms Smolski said.
“For far too long, climate action and energy policy in Australia has been tied up in a culture war driven by politics and ideology, while people and the planet continue to suffer."
Ms Smolski said Premier Glady Berejiklian needed to fast-track the $9 billion worth of renewable energy projects in the pipeline in NSW. [1]
“Today’s events show that we need to turbo-charge our switch to a safe, secure and sustainable electricity system,” she said.
“With only 5% of electricity in NSW coming from wind and solar, we are lagging well behind other states. We have to do everything we can to catch up and start leading the nation.”
Ms Smolski said the government must slash carbon pollution, increase the reliability of our power supply, and promote jobs by:
- Setting enforceable targets to source 40% of NSW’s electricity from renewables by 2025 and 100% by 2030.
- Developing a plan for a quick and orderly phase-out of our antiquated coal-fired power stations in a way that is fair for power-station workers.
- Creating incentives for storage technologies like batteries and pumped hydro to make our electricity grid more stable and reliable.
“Today’s energy supply crisis sends a clear signal that Ms Berejiklian needs to do much more to stimulate the boom in renewables investment that will deliver energy security, regional jobs and a safer climate.
“Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull’s call for more coal-fired power stations is pure lunacy. Coal-fired power stations are not the solution – they are a major part of the problem.”
References
[1] NSW Government, NSW Renewable Energy Action Plan Annual Report 2015.
Tags
Climate and energy
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