Energy market experts warn the government's plan to build a new gas-fired power station is not needed and will not stimulate the economy enough.
A former BP Australasia president warns the federal government's plan to underwrite the expansion of gas infrastructure is more of an industry rescue package than a stimulus plan to drive the economy out of the coronavirus pandemic.
The federal government is promising to build its own gas-fired power plant if the industry does not meet a predicted shortfall."The Australian Energy Market Operator says we don’t need [a 1000 gigawatt gas plant in NSW], AGL says we don’t need it, the Australian Energy Market Commission says we don’t need it and investors won’t put money into it," said Mr Bourne, now a member of the Climate Council.
He said renewable projects had greater long term positive impacts because they demanded a larger local workforce and resulted in securing a cheap or effectively free energy source upon completion.
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