Share
Labor MPs who believe their electorates stand to gain from a gas-fired power station in the Hunter Valley have spoken out against the party’s decision to oppose the project, saying it was needed to safeguard jobs, create new ones and lower power prices.
Meryl Swanson, who holds the seat of Paterson in which the power station would be built, said she not only welcomed the 600 construction jobs the project would create in Kurri Kurri, but the security it would provide the Tomago aluminium smelter as well as thousands of other businesses struggling with, at times, crippling power prices.
Watts happening GAS MONEY
Scott Morrison and
Angus Taylor will today confirm plans to build a 660 megawatt gas power plant at Kurri Kurri in the Hunter Valley through a $600 million equity investment via the publicly-owned Snowy Hydro Limited, news dutifully announced by
The Australian ($) as stepping in “to keep power prices down and the lights on”.
This is despite the Australian Energy Market Operator finding that the 2023 closure of Liddell’s coal-fired power station would create a maximum shortage of just 154 megawatts, and, as
Guardian Australiaexplains, that batteries, pumped hydro, or demand management would all be cheaper options than the Kurri Kurri project.
Hunter Valley set to shun coal for renewable energy
Newcastle and the Hunter Valley have always been known for the coal produced in the region. That is all set to change with ground-breaking plans to turn the Upper Hunter Valley into “Hydrogen Valley” in a scheme that would see the region become 100 per cent fuelled by renewable energy.
A consortium of local and global energy companies has been put together to make the ambitious project a reality, led by renewables advisory business Energy Estate. The $2 billion proposals would see wind and solar farms used to power hydrogen electrolysers which would, in turn, create feedstock for mining, transport and the local industrial sector. Put short, it could replace the local coal mining industry with a clean, green alternative.
Watts happening msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Morrison government to spend $600 million on new Hunter Valley gas power plant 9news.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 9news.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.