Responding to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s plans to spend $50m on gas supply and plan a gas power station in the Hunter Valley, Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said: 

“The Prime Minister has thrown his own “technology neutral” energy policy out the window, and is locking Australia into burning expensive, polluting gas.”

“This is not a climate safe plan, and Australians will pay a very high cost if the government doesn’t wake up and start choosing clean options. 

“Locking in more gas will just heat the planet, making bushfires and heatwaves worse.”

“We call on the Prime Minister to consider clean options for back-up power supply, like grid scale batteries and pumped hydro”

“The time for building new fossil fuel power plants is long past.

“After the bushfire summer from hell that we just lived through, it is clear we cannot afford to delay.

“We urge all companies and governments to lift their level of ambition so Australia has 100% clean energy by 2030.”

The Nature Conservation Council welcomes AGL’s plans to significantly expand its investment in grid-scale storage. [1]

“The symbolism of converting Liddell coal-fired power station site into a major battery for clean energy storage could hardly be more powerful,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said.

“AGL clearly sees the end of coal as inevitable. The only question now is the speed of the transition.

“AGL has also put what should be the final nail in the coffin for the expensive, dirty and unnecessary Narrabri coal seam gas project.

“The science tells us that NSW and Australia have to end coal-fired power generation by 2030 to be on track to meet the Paris targets.

“If the government and business stick to their current plans, they will miss that deadline by 20 years.

“After the bushfire summer from hell that we just lived through, it is clear we cannot afford to delay.

“We applaud AGL’s announcement today, but we urge all companies and governments to lift their level of ambition so Australia has 100% clean energy by 2030.”

References

[1] AGL gets on with the business of transition with integrated battery system plan, AGL, 14-8-2020

Opening a Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in New England is welcome but the timing of its development is critical to ensure NSW transitions from coal to renewables faster than is currently planned. [1] 

The NSW Government has announced it will spend $79 million on planning to enable the $12.7 billion of potential investment in the New England Renewable Energy Zone to flows, but no timeline has been given.

The announcement says the delivery timetable to be developed during the detailed planning process.

Earlier this year, the state and federal government agreed to spend $2 billion underwriting new transmission lines linking new renewable projects to the national grid.

"Minister Kean is doing an admirable job of pulling the government in the right direction and increasing the pace of the transition from coal to clean energy, but there is still a question mark over whether that transition is happening fast enough,” Nature Conservation Council Acting Chief Executive Jacqui Mumford said.

"NSW has to end coal and gas power production by 2030 to play its part in limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees and yet the state still burns coal for more than three-quarters of its electricity. 

"Under current arrangements, coal power will be phased out in NSW around 2050, which is far too late. 

“The good news is that NSW has abundant wind and solar energy resources and the potential to be a clean energy superpower both domestically and internationally.

“The North-West Renewable Energy Zone will generate clean-energy jobs and economic activity that are badly needed after the bushfires, drought and covid.

“Now is not the time for opening up gas fields in Narrabri, when clean energy is ready to go.”

REFERENCES

[1] New renewable energy zone to almost match NSW's coal-fired capacity, SMH, 10-7-20

Tomorrow NSW votes! It's a critical time for nature so Kate and Daisy have got the low down for you on where the parties stand on climate and environment. Share it and let others know too. You can view the full suite of our scorecards here https://www.nature.org.au/our-campaigns/election-scorecards-2019/ Authorised by Kate Smolski, Nature Conservation Council of NSW, 14/338 Pitt St, Sydney.

We have a chance to choose a future for our great state powered by clean, cheap energy. This election, you can choose to make NSW a clean energy leader. See how the parties compare at www.repowernsw.org.au

Daisy and Brad dig into Labor's commitment and what it means for the climate, electricity bills and the upcoming election.

Just weeks out from the NSW election, join us for our biggest door-knock yet, in Bronte, to ramp up the pressure on all parties to revolutionise energy in NSW! Are you in? RSVP here: http://natureorg.nationbuilder.com/doorknock_day_of_action?fbclid=IwAR0Fzh0rVy5vipxeZ6iHgOyTjSi0Q1UKx7aYnrS52js3TYmIRAfSrJosluI

A new report launched today by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis shows NSW's coal exports have peaked and are now in terminal decline. Coal is on its way out as the world moves to cheaper, cleaner energy that's better for all. Time for NSW to catch up, Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Sign the petition and join the movement to Repower NSW bit.ly/repowernsw

Eight years in government and not even a renewable energy target for NSW? Yeah, not good enough Gladys Berejiklian and the NSW Libs. If you’re sick of droughts, heat waves and the government doing diddly-squat, sign the petition here: bit.ly/clean-energy-nsw Authorised by K. Smolski, 14/338 Pitt St, Sydney, 2000.