“Gas is preferable to coal for electricity generation for a number of reasons – economic, social and environmental, and assertions to the contrary are distortions of the facts,” said APPEA executive director Barry Jones.

“Even the coal industry’s own data makes it clear that gas is a better fuel for electricity generation.”

Jones said there were two main factors driving the push for building more coal-fired power stations.

“Firstly, there is a myth that last February’s blackouts were due a lack of gas supply – but this is simply not the case,” he said.

“There was actually 34% spare capacity in the pipeline the day the system went down. The blackouts were due to management failures but the bureaucracy and the Government don’t want to admit that.

“Secondly, both sides of politics are keen to win votes in the marginal seats of Bunbury and Collie, where the state’s coal industry is based.”

Jones said gas provided WA with a price advantage that coal could not match and the capital and gas-fired power stations had cheaper operating costs per unit of electricity than coal-fired facilities.

In addition, gas-fired electricity production was safer, cleaner and more flexible than coal-fired production. He also argued that most power in WA currently generated by coal, so it made sense to diversify the state’s power sources by developing a cheaper, cleaner alternative. Moreover, gas was just as reliable as coal.

“The Cronin Report clearly shows that the availability of gas supply was not a contributing factor to the electricity supply disruptions earlier in 2004,” he said.

“Unfortunately this message isn’t getting out and the coal lobby and some politicians are encouraging misperceptions in order to advance their own interests.”