Premier stands by renewables
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has reiterated the State Government’s opposition to the construction of any new coal- fired power stations in Queensland during a visit to Townsville.
Ms Palaszczuk was in Townsville yester- day to officially open Sun Metals’ $ 200 million solar farm.
“There is no need for a new coal- fired power station for Queensland,” she said. Ms Palaszczuk said regional Queenslanders in particular stood to benefit from the jobs generated by investment in renewables.
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk says backing renewable technology over a new coal- fired power station has bolstered investor confidence in the North Queensland energy industry.
Ms Palaszczuk, who was in Townsville yesterday to officially open Sun Metals’ $ 200 million solar farm, reiterated the State Government’s opposition to any new coal- fired power stations in Queensland.
“There is no need for a new coal- fired power station for Queensland. I have ruled that out,” she said.
“Queensland is the energy powerhouse of the nation. We have some of the youngest coal fired power fleets in the nation, we have gas exploration happening, we’re releasing more gas into the domestic market and … we have a 50 per cent renewable energy target.”
Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland was experiencing strong private investment in renewable technologies, such as the Sun Metals solar farm in Townsville, because of the confidence provided by the 50 per cent target.
“( Companies) are investing in Queensland because my government is providing that certainty through the renewable energy target,” she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said regional Queenslanders in particular stood to benefit from the jobs generated by investment in renewables.
“We know how important it is for Queenslanders to get jobs … that is why we are a big backer of this industry.”
Ms Palaszczuk’s stance on a new coal- fired power station places the State Government at odds with Federal Government members in regional Queensland.
Dawson MP George Christensen said he was “encour- aged” by recent reports Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull could consider underwriting investment in coal- fired power stations.
“These reports lead me to believe that the Government will adopt the recommendation of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and financially underwrite the construction of new power generation assets, and that includes new clean coal- fired power stations,” he said. Sun Metals chief executive Yun Choi said the new Townsville solar farm would give his company an edge in its bid to be the most environmentally responsible and com-
petitive zinc refinery in the world.
“The solar farm is one of a kind in the Australian market in that it will directly power a large industrial user and export electricity into the na- tional electricity market,” he said. Mr Choi said the solar farm had brought the company one step closer to making a final decision on the potential expansion of its Townsville operations.