LNP will cancel Pioneer Burdekin without a replacement, keeping coal fired power on ‘indefinitely’
David Crisafulli ‘categorically’ ruled out Queensland biggest renewable energy project instead keeping coal-fired power stations running sparking swift rebuke from environmental advocates.
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The Pioneer Burdekin pumped hydro project is dead in the water if the LNP wins power, even if the business case and environmental case stack up.
Speaking in Mackay, Opposition leader David Crisafulli ‘categorically’ ruled out the project regardless of the studies, while saying he would keep coal-fired power running with no end date.
When asked how the LNP would make up the 5000MW shortfall if the project doesn’t go ahead, he said the LNP plans to bring on ‘smaller, more manageable’ pumped hydro, the same line the government has given since April.
But when asked to name a single site out of the multiple it was considering, Crisafulli could not name one, nor where they would be, or what they would cost.
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Mr Crisafulli refused to commit to naming any sites before the October 26 election so that voters would be able to see the LNP’s ‘vision’ for renewable energy.
Mr Crisafulli committed to keeping coal fired power stations “indefinitely”, while the “transition continues”.
His comments sparked swift rebuke from environmental advocates.
Queensland Conservation Council director Dave Copeman accused the LNP of being “all over the shop on energy and climate”.
“You can’t reach 75 per cent emissions reductions by 2035 without closing coal-fired power stations,” he said.
“If the LNP is serious about keeping coal open indefinitely, they can’t be serious about taking action on climate change and reducing power bills for Queenslanders.”
The LNP did not support the government’s bid to legislate renewable energy targets but it did vote for emissions reductions targets.
The pumped-hydro projects are the centrepiece of the government’s strategy to turn off coal-fired power stations by 2035, and hit its emissions reductions targets, which the LNP has also voted in favour of.
The majority of Queensland’s carbon emissions come from electricity generation.
Queensland Conservation Council Director Dave Copeman said it is impossible to reach the 75 per cent emissions reductions targets without closing coal-fired power stations.
“If the LNP is serious about keeping coal open indefinitely, they can’t be serious about taking action on climate change and reducing power bills for Queenslanders,” Mr Copeman said.
“The Shadow Energy Minister Deb Frecklington has said publicly more than once that the LNP supports the trajectory of Queensland’s renewable energy targets. This is completely incompatible with keeping coal open on life support past their planned retirement dates.”
The Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro, if completed, would be able to store roughly 24 hours of electricity for Queensland.
It would take multiple large-scale pumped hydro projects to store the same amount of energy, according to government modelling.
When asked how voters could trust him to deliver the pumped hydro projects on time, and trust voters to believe in the LNP plan if they can’t tell them where they are, Mr Crisafulli said they would deliver Borumba on time.
The Borumba pumped-hydro project is already part of the existing energy and jobs plan, and could not make up for the shortfall of the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro being cancelled.
When asked what would happen to those living in the valley who sold their homes to the government since the Pioneer-Burdekin project was announced, Mr Crisafulli said this wasn’t the first time this had happened, without explaining how he would solve the issue.
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