‘New dark age’ fear in gas plan
PUSHING for more gas production is seeing Australia enter a new “dark age” by shunning scientific advice to lower emissions, a leading energy expert has warned.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian yesterday inked a $2 billion energy deal to add another 70 petajoules of gas per year into the national electricity grid.
NSW alone uses about 120 petajoules per year.
Bruce Robertson from the Institute of Energy Economics and Finance Analysis says this won’t do what the government is promising – reduce prices or emissions – and rejects scientific advice.
“We’re seeing that with climate policy and we’re seeing that with gas policy – we’re seeing evidence thrown out the window,” he said.
“We’re entering a new dark age.” Boosting gas supply hinges on final approvals for Santos’ Narrabri gas project, but options in Port Kembla and Newcastle are also up the state government’s sleeve.
Fracking extracts gas in a water-intensive process which results in excess salt, risking contamination to both land and other water.
“The government’s holding out very big carrots and very big sticks,” Mr Robertson said.
“It clearly wants to get this done and it clearly isn’t representing the people.
“Producing more polluting fuels does not lower emissions.” The agreement involves jointly underwriting interconnectors between the Snowy area and Sydney, along with a link between Queensland and NSW.
Mr Morrison said some of the money would go towards coal innovation to see how power generation and mining can emit less pollution.
Environmentalists are critical about the plan.