Susan Johnston, head of the Council, told the Queensland Power Conference that coal remains as the states most viable energy resource and called for the government to soften its views on coal-fired power.

“The recent initiatives in the area of cleaner coal utilisation have left the current Queensland Government energy policy somewhat out of date,” Johnston told the conference.

“We think that the time has come to consider bringing energy policy more into line with what we know is possible in the whole area of low to zero emissions from coal research.”

The Queensland energy policy comes into effect from January next year and sets guidelines for 13% of the state’s power to come from natural gas and 2% from renewable energy sources in an attempt to alleviate greenhouse gas emission levels.

Last week the state government gave final approval for the $1.1 billion Kogan Creek project, before declaring that it would be Queensland’s last coal-fired power station, unless there was a clear and demonstrated need.

However, Johnston said research had proved that cleaner utilisation of coal resulted in low to zero emissions and that state’s energy policy currently did not reflect these improvements.