The NSW Government is preparing to extend the life of coal mines and coal fired power in the state with a publicly funded lifeline to the Eraring coal fired power station. Earlier plans by the former Government to extend Eraring’s closure from 2025 to 2028 were deemed too expensive with Origin Energy demanding that 90% of lost revenue be compensated by NSW taxpayers estimated to be $3 billion over 2 years.
Greens MP and spokesperson for climate change Sue Higginson said “The Government’s announcement that it is undertaking to prepare the ground for an extension at Eraring is frankly frightening. This is Australia’s largest coal fired power plant and is directly propping up the coal mining industry while fuelling extreme climate change driven events in NSW.
“The extortionate price tag to prop up coal fired power in NSW should be pumped into fast tracking renewable energy production and storage projects to ensure that we aren’t reliant on fossil fuel power for another decade. Government funded corporate bailouts for old and dirty power plants were turned back by the Coalition so it is unbelievable that the new Labor Minister for Climate Change has agreed to this principle in Cabinet.
“Independent experts have made it clear that extending Eraring is not the only way to increase power security. It’s the dirtiest and most expensive way when compared to investing heavily into a rapid decarbonisation of our power system. Meanwhile, a former Labor staffer has prepared a report that says Eraring should stay open and the Government is jumping towards the worst possible choice.
