THE Nature Conservation Council (NCC) has taken a swipe at NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro following comments he made about the Liddell power station this week.
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The NSW Nationals Leader intervened in the climate and energy debate by advocating compulsory government acquisition of the Muswellbrook-based facility to keep it operating beyond its 2022 scheduled closing date.
In an interview on Sky News on Thursday, Mr Barilaro said he would support a government-led acquisition of the station.
“If that doesn’t come from free will, maybe the government should consider using its powers to do so,” he added.
But, the NCC hit back at his claims.
“While people in NSW are fighting bushfires and heatwaves, the acting Premier wants to throw more fuel on the fire,” senior climate and energy campaigner Dr Brad Smith said.
“It is hard to understand why Mr Barilaro is pushing highly polluting and dangerous energy options when regional areas are on the cusp of a clean energy jobs and investment bonanza.
“He is not only undermining his own government’s climate targets, he is jeopardising the economic wellbeing of regions his party purports to represent.
“It is critical that NSW phases out coal-fired power and ramp up renewables investment as quickly as possible to ensure we do our fair share in reducing climate pollution from this sector.
“Keeping Liddell open beyond its 2022 scheduled closure sends the wrong signal to clean-energy investors and would lock in millions of tonnes of climate pollution for many more years.
“It would also be a blow to the clean-energy industry that has the potential to generate billions of dollars in investment and thousands of jobs in regional NSW.
“More than 41,000 NSW households and businesses installed solar panels in 2017.
“In less than four years, the state government could easily make up the 850 MW currently generated by Liddell simply by supporting these households to install batteries.
“Clean energy and storage is by far the cheapest and fastest way to get power in to the grid.”