Pages tagged "renewables"
NCC applauds Minister Scully for taking on the approval of renewables
7th March 2023
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today welcomed a commitment by NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully to reform the planning approvals process for renewable energy infrastructure.
Speaking at the Smart Energy Council conference in Sydney yesterday, Minister Scully acknowledged the mounting criticism that NSW has been far too slow in approving renewables projects and showed real ambition in aiming to see almost 50 wind, solar and battery storage projects approved in NSW this year.
Renewable investors in NSW, especially those wishing to build wind farms, have been languishing while states like Victoria and Queensland have approved impressive amounts of renewable energy – energy that will enter the grid and reduce power prices and carbon emissions.
"We’ve been hearing for a long time that the approvals process in NSW isn’t fit for purpose" Jacqui Mumford, NCC CEO said today.
“The process sounds almost Kafkaesque, with department officials unable to tell renewable development proponents what information they will need to provide in order to see a project approved.
“Instead of standardised questions, applications are drip fed back and forth between investors and various agencies, leading to duplication and huge delays as different departments seem unable to talk to each other and work out if an application meets their various criteria.
“We’ve also heard that the Department of Planning is extremely understaffed, and was never going to be able to process the level of renewable projects they would necessarily receive if NSW were to meet their renewables targets.”
However, Mumford also warned that the changes to the biodiversity protection laws would be critical in ensuring the community was confident that renewables delivered for nature and the climate.
“We’ve heard from investors that poor biodiversity protections in NSW is a major concern. Renewable investors are incredibly sensitive to the perception that a given wind or solar farm has been built on sites of environmental significance.
“The last thing they want is to find out that important koala habitat was cleared to make a site ready for renewables.
“However, lax regulations and rules that allow private landholders to self-assess the ecological value of their land before clearing it creates a perverse incentive structure that risks this happening without the knowledge of a renewable developer.
“That’s why it will be critical that a whole of government approach to planning reform is implemented. Constructive new biodiversity laws will ensure the environment movement that action on climate change is supporting our biodiversity goals.
“We need to remove bureaucratic inefficiencies, ensure the department is adequately resourced and trained, and that NSW has strong environmental protections for all development applications.
“Only then can we deliver the transition to renewables that benefits the community, nature and the climate.”
Statement ends
Media contact: Clancy Barnard
E: [email protected] Ph: 0438 869 332
Note: NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford is available for comment on request
Government must prepare coal communities for for energy transition
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
Gas-giant Santos gets green light to desecrate the Pilliga forest
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.
Prime Minister Morrison abandons his own “technology neutral” principles to fuel fossil obsession
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.”