“This is another major feather in the cap for Australia’s decision makers in their efforts to make us all more economically, socially and environmentally responsible when it comes to delivering sustainably produced electricity,” APPEA chief executive Belinda Robinson said today.
“Objective economic, social and environmental data shows that gas offers significant benefits as a fuel for electricity generation and it is most pleasing that Victoria has chosen this basis for determining gas as the future fuel for such new electricity generation.
“Energy experts throughout the world recognise that natural gas is the way to deliver less greenhouse-intensive electricity, particularly during the period of transition to when the large step-change energy technologies necessary to make the deep cuts in emissions that are required, are commercially available.”
The Victorian Government’s environmental decision for the new Origin Energy power station follows the go-ahead announced for major new gas-fired power stations in Western Australia and Queensland in the past 18 months.
Total gas-fired power station investment announced during this period now totals more than $3 billion.
“These sensible decisions have further expanded the percentage of new electricity generators being fuelled by natural gas in Australia,” she said.
“Natural gas is now the fuel used for around 14% of electricity generation in Australia and on current indications, is heading towards around 22 percent by 2029-30. Australia has significant reserves of natural gas available to meet this growing demand.
“This is not to say that the Government should not look at all possible and feasible energy options for the long term. In fact, they must because energy security is one of, if not the most, urgent public policy challenge confronting us all.
“But in taking up such a challenge, we must not lose sight of the cost-competitive options that sit before us in gas, which will assist Australia in meeting its near-term economic and environmental challenges in a way that other energy sources can’t yet.”
