New Hunter Valley coal proposal is dangerously absurd and cannot be supported

2019-03-06

With the state election less than three weeks away the Greens are calling on NSW Labor and the NSW Coalition to immediately rule out approving any new coal fired power stations in NSW.

The issue has gained fresh urgency with breaking reports that a deal has been signed between a Hunter Valley landowner and a multinational coal company proposing a new coal fired power station on the former Hunter Economic Zone in Kurri Kurri.

Greens MP David Shoebridge said:

“Building any new coal fired power station in NSW not only makes zero economic sense but it would be a betrayal of a safe climate and future generations.

“At a time when we need to be moving to 100% renewable energy in NSW it is essential that all the political players in this state show their cards on coal fired power.

"There are two choices here, we either meet our Paris climate targets and work towards net zero emissions or we approve a new coal fired power station, and we cannot do both.

“The Greens have followed the science and we’ve listened to the community and we know we need to transition out of coal by 2030 at the latest.

“This is a proposal that should have a 24 hour lifespan. It needs to squashed by every serious political player today,” Mr Shoebridge said.

Media Contact: Andrew Bradley p: 0403 777 137 e: andrew.bradley@nsw.greens.org.au