Queensland’s LNP Government has announced its new five-year Energy Roadmap, in which it will extend the life of the state’s coal-fired power plants for decades to come.
Queensland Energy Minister David Janetzki said coal would remain the part of the state’s energy mix for “decades”.
“The former Labor government’s decision to close coal units by 2035 regardless of their condition is officially abolished today,” he said.
“This is a sensible and pragmatic plan built on economics and engineering, not ideology.”
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The Energy Roadmap includes a $400 million Queensland Energy Investment Fund, designed to attract energy project investors.
“[The] fund will be an open door to all renewable investment proponents,” Janetzki said in a statement.
“Bringing Queensland energy supply and firming projects from origination to operations, and inviting collaboration with the private sector and government-owned corporations (GOC).”
The fund will be managed by which will be managed by the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), which Janetzki said would establish a “gateway” by the end of the year to link the private sector with government-owned energy corporations.
“The investor gateway will establish a coordinated approach for developers, investors and government-owned corporations to solicit interest in renewable energy projects and develop whole-of-state solutions,” he said.
Janetzki said the state government would also deliver the Copperstring transmission project in North Queensland.
The LNP Government has also pledged to repeal Labor’s legislated emissions and renewable energy targets.
The Climate Council called the Queensland’s Government’s Energy Roadmap “reckless”.
“The Crisafulli Government’s Energy Roadmap is set to sign Queenslanders up for outdated, unreliable, and expensive coal power until the 2040s—a move that threatens to drive up household bills, worsen climate pollution and put thousands of clean energy jobs at risk,” it said in a statement.
“The plan sits in stark contrast to projections from the Australian Energy Market Operator, which show all of Queensland’s coal power stations closing by 2035.
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“Extending and expanding coal and gas power stations locks in more harmful climate pollution for longer, driving more frequent and extreme weather events that harm Queenslanders.”
Climate Council energy expert Greg Bourne said, “Chaining Queensland to coal clunkers for 20 years is a bet against Queensland’s future. It’s bad economics, bad for the climate, and bad for Queensland households. This is a reckless plan from a government that said it would cut climate pollution and lower costs.
“This roadmap is more of a road block to progress. Queensland’s coal power stations failed 78 times last summer, costing taxpayers billions to keep them on life support. The government is throwing good money after bad—money that should be building renewable energy and storage projects that deliver cheaper, cleaner power for everyone.”
