April 22nd 2024
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state's leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today strongly welcomed the joint announcement by NSW & Federal governments of the largest single renewable energy tender in Australia.
The new tender is part of the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), that will target 6 GW of new variable renewable energy projects for the National Electricity Market (NEM).
"It is heartening to see the NSW and Commonwealth Governments working together to push forward the renewable energy transition," said NCC Climate and Energy Senior Campaigner, Jacqui Mills.
To speed up this transition even further, NSW needs to fix its planning and environmental protection laws. That will give investors and the community the confidence we need to ensure NSW moves from a laggard to leader when it comes to climate action.
Statements attributable to NCC Climate and Energy Senior Campaigner Jacqui Mills
"While the Coalition is stuck on divisive debates about nuclear, the energy transition is not slowing down.
"There is still a lot of work to be done in speeding up consideration of new renewable projects, as well as policies that incentivise solar and storage from businesses and households, however, this is a significant step forward on the path to a clean energy future.
"The momentum for the clean energy transition is growing, and there is no need to hold on to old technology like Eraring coal-fired power plant. Let's close this ailing, polluting coal plant down and continue to turbocharge investment in renewable infrastructure.
"Tackling climate change is a win for nature because climate change threatens eco-systems and species.
"The government has an opportunity to ensure renewable projects are done in a way that enhances nature, as it tackles the challenges of the energy transition.
"By building infrastructure on already degraded land, partnering energy projects with agriculture, restoring ecosystems on the sites of energy projects and establishing closed-loop product life-cycles, Australia can lead the way towards a nature positive energy system.
"We can have the best of both worlds by making sure that strong planning and nature laws support renewable energy projects that restore nature."
Statement ends
