The Federal Labor Government has approved a new solar farm in Smoky Creek, Central Queensland, that will generate enough energy to power 200,000 households, while cutting carbon emissions by a million tonnes, each and every year.
This is another big step in the Government's plan to make Australia a renewable energy superpower.
More than ten years of political fights about climate change cost Australia big time. The Liberal Party and the National Party fighting each other. The Greens Party fighting the Labor Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. These political fights squandered opportunity, and investment in renewable energy dried up.
Labor is acting fast to make up for that lost decade. The political fights that held Australia back should be behind us.
It's projects like the Smoky Creek solar farm that will help get us to 82 per cent renewables by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2050.
The Smoky Creek solar farm will generate more than one million megawatt hours per annum of renewable energy - enough to power more than 200,000 households. It will also stop almost one million tonnes of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere each year - that's equivalent to taking around 310,000 cars off the road every year. It will deliver Australians more power, and it will cut emissions - it's a win-win.
As well as being an important part of Australia's transition to renewables, this solar farm will also boost the local economy with a plan for at least half of jobs and procurement associated with the project to be filled locally.
The project has been approved following assessment under Australia's environment law, with strict conditions to protect the local environment and minimise impact to nearby land and waterways.
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:
"Australia can be a renewable energy superpower, and projects like this help us get there. We have the right conditions, the technology, and the passion to make the most of these opportunities. It will help transform our economy and better protect our environment.
"We know renewable energy is cheaper, cleaner and crucial to helping us cut emissions and reach our goal of net zero by 2050.
"Australians elected a government committed to action on climate change - and that's what we're doing. I'm proud to have already doubled the rate of renewable energy approvals, with a record number of projects in the pipeline.
"We're making clear to industry that the decade of stalling and denial when it comes to the opportunities of renewables is over."
