The Nature Conservation Council welcomes the passage of the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Bill through NSW Parliament this afternoon with cross-party support after a marathon 32-hour sitting of the upper house.

The bill will ensure about 60 wind and solar farms are built over the next 10 years, creating 9,000 jobs and stimulating $32 billion in private investment. These projects will prevent the emission of 90 million tonnes of climate pollution.

“The passage of this bill shows that all sides of politics agree we must get on with building the clean-energy future our state needs,” NCC Chief Executive Chris Gambian said.

“This law is proof that NSW can act on climate change at the same time as creating jobs and reducing power bills.”

The NSW Electricity Infrastructure Investment Bill will accelerate the construction of transmission lines to regional NSW and support the development of new solar, wind and pumped-hydro projects.

“Everyone in NSW has skin in this game,” Mr Gambian said. “Last bushfire season showed we are now on the front line of climate change impacts, and scientists have warned that if we don’t immediately cut climate pollution, fire seasons will get much worse.

“This law will see about 60 new solar and wind farms constructed across the state, more than quadrupling clean-energy generation.”

The Liberal Party, ALP, the Nationals, the Greens, Christian Democrats, Animal Justice Party and independent MPs supported the bill. Only Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers  Party opposed.

“Global heating is a massive global crisis,” Mr Gambian said. “This plan demonstrates that we can find pathways through this crisis that help modernise and strengthen our economy.”

The Nature Conservation Council welcomes today’s NSW Government Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap as a crucial step towards making NSW a low-carbon economy.

 “This plan is a step-change in ambition on clean energy,” said NCC Chief Executive Chris Gambian..

“It represents serious action on climate change in a way that will also create jobs and bring down power prices.

The NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap announced today will accelerate the construction of transmission lines to regional NSW and support the development of new solar, wind and pumped-hydro projects. 

It will ensure about 60 wind and solar farms are built over the next 10 years, create 9,000 jobs,  stimulatE $32 billion in private investment, and prevent the emission of 90 million tonnes.

“Everyone in NSW has skin in this game,” Mr Gambian said. “Last bushfire season proved yet again we are on the front line of climate change impacts and scientists have warned that if we don’t immediately cut climate pollution fire seasons will get much worse.

“The plan will see about 60 new solar and wind farms start generating across the state, more than quadrupling clean energy generation.

“Global heating is a massive global crisis. This plan demonstrates that we can find pathways through this crisis that help modernise and strengthen our economy.

“While the Morrison government is absent on climate action, thank goodness their Coalition colleagues in NSW are willing to step up to the challenge of cutting climate pollution while growing the economy.”

The International Energy Agency (IEA) overnight sounded the death knell for global coal demand and yet there is still no credible plan for diversifying regional economies of Lithgow and the Hunter. [1]

“The people of Lithgow and the Hunter region are being let down by political leaders who have failed to prepare for the inevitable changes facing their community,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said. 

“The International Energy Agency yesterday forecasted the steady decline in coal demand over the next 10 to 20 years. 

“It has warned coal-fired power will decline to less than 20 per cent of the world's energy by 2040, virtually spelling the end of the coal era.”

IEA chief Faith Birol said: Solar PV is now consistently cheaper than new coal- or gas-fired power plants in most countries, and solar projects now offer some of the lowest cost electricity ever seen. [2]

“There are huge opportunities beyond coal for the Hunter and Lithgow regions, but they will require investment by the government and business.

“These regions can’t reach its post-coal potential alone - it needs substantial support from the state and federal governments. That support is conspicuously lacking.

“Change in our energy systems is gathering pace so coal communities need government help to get on board or they will be left behind.

“Germany has created a 40 billion euro fund to help its coal communities develop new economic opportunities. 

“We need something similar to ensure our communities don’t suffer because of the rapid international shift away from coal.

“We call on the NSW government to set aside a substantial fund, with billions of dollars to ensure no worker is left high and dry and that coal mining regions will have sufficient resources to adapt economically.”

References

[1] International Energy Agency: coal has surrendered to solar, SMH, 14-10-20

[2] International Energy Agency Press Release, 13-10-20 

Media contact: James Tremain | 0419 272 254

The Federal Government has included an undisclosed sum in the 2020-21 budget to help coal baron and Coalition donor Trevor St Baker maintain the Vales Point coal-fired power station. [1]

“Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s $213 billion dollar deficit this year pales in comparison to the climate debt he is leaving for future generations by backing coal and gas,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said.

“The federal government has no business funding a privately-owned coal-fired power station.

“Bushfires and heatwaves are already becoming more deadly and subsidising an old coal-fired power station is just throwing fuel on the fire.”

Mr St Baker, the owner of Vales Point coal-fired power station on the Central Coast applied for taxpayer subsidies under the federal government’s Underwriting New Generation Investments Program. 

“The government should have a plan for the orderly closure of coal-fired power stations and their replacement with clean energy,” Mr Gambian said.  

“Subsidising coal power simply scares off investors in clean power sources like solar and wind backed-up with batteries.”

Mr St Baker has a record of gaining from government decisions. He bought Vales Point power station from the NSW Government for $1 million in 2015 and made $113 million in profit on the deal in 2017-18. [2]  

Mr St Baker is a regular political donor and a former National Party electoral candidate. 

REFERENCES

[1] Budget Paper 2, page 117,  2020-21 

[2] 23-1-19, Newcastle Herald, The man who bought Vales Point power station from the NSW Government for a song has new plans for the site 

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW (NCC) says that the Independent Planning Commission’s (IPC) approval of Santos’ Narrabri gas project is a blow to nature in the state.

“Santos now has the green light to desecrate the Pilliga forest – turning it into an industrial gas field that will damage groundwater, carve up the forest and endanger koalas and other threatened species” said NCC Campaigns Director Dr Brad Smith.

“Never has a project in NSW seen such enormous public opposition at all levels – from the Gomeroi Traditional Custodians who fought to protect the enormous traditional significance of the Pilliga to the 404 people who appeared at a record 7 days of public hearings”

“The NSW Government has turned its back on traditional owners, farmers and local communities in North West NSW who are fighting to protect their water, land and livelihoods and stop this project wreaking havoc on our climate.”

“Government and planning authorities must stop supporting gas projects that release millions of tonnes of potent climate pollution.”

“Existing coal and gas fields will push the world past globally agreed temperature goals. There is no room, or need, for more.”

“If the government wants to do something about gas, it should focus on electrification of Australian businesses and households with heat pumps for hot water, reverse-cycle air conditioning for space heating and induction cooktops.”

“Our economy can’t use dirty fuels any longer. Jobs and industries are already built on clean energy technology and NSW is getting left behind.” 

“We call on the government to commit to ensuring the IPC’s conditions aren’t swept under the rug, and Santos actually comes up with a salt management plan and a compliant groundwater model before construction commences.

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