Narrabri gas: Angus Taylor criticises Matt Kean
NSW Environment and Energy Minister Matt Kean has been slammed as out of step by his federal counterpart Angus Taylor. DO YOU AGREE? HAVE YOUR SAY
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NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean has been accused by his federal counterpart of being “out of step” with his own party over the viability of gas projects.
Federal Minister Angus Taylor’s comments came after Premier Gladys Berejiklian declared gas is an “essential” part of the energy mix in the “short to medium term”. The Premier on Wednesday backed gas as an energy source until storage capacity for the grid is boosted: “Whether it’s supporting traditional sources of energy or whether it’s supporting renewables until you have good storage capacity, gas is essential.”
She said her government has “a very good balance of existing energy sources, plus also an eye to the future, and gas is central to that”.
Mr Kean, who also holds the environment portfolio, yesterday sought to downplay comments he made to a Coalition for Conservation teleconference, where he described gas as a “hugely expensive” energy source.
“I’ve always said gas will play a role in our energy mix in the short to medium term as we transition away from fossil fuels,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
However, Mr Kean earlier suggested that Santos was taking a “gamble” by investing in the massive Narrabri Gas Project.
“I just think it’s a big gamble for them, particularly in this environment,” he told The Australian.
Mr Kean last night said “every project has different economics (and) nobody understands the economics of Narrabri better than Santos”.
“They are best placed to determine if the project stacks up. We are going to need more gas in the state and I would prefer to see that investment and those jobs here.”
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Mr Kean did not directly answer questions about why gas is not a preferred long-term energy source given the 25-year operating life of the Narrabri project, or about his preferred plan for the future of the coal-fired Liddell Power Station.
“I welcome the decision by the Independent Planning Commission on the Narrabri gas project, following a rigorous assessment process.
“The project can produce enough gas to supply up to 50 per cent of NSW’s current domestic gas demand over a period of at least 20 years.”
Mr Kean said renewables will be cheaper than coal in the long term.
It came as the federal energy minister Angust Taylor accused Mr Kean of being at odds with the Premier over his comments to the Coalition for Conservation.
“Those comments from Matt Kean were out of step with his leader, his party and the people of NSW who want to see affordable reliable energy (and) strong manufacturing jobs growth, and that’s what we’ll get from more gas,” Mr Taylor told Sky News.
MATT KEAN DISMISSES GAS
In a speech launching a youth wing of the climate change group Coalition for Conservation on Tuesday night, Mr Kean claimed gas was a “hugely expensive” way of generating electricity.
He also said climate change was the “biggest challenge that will face our society and our economy in our lifetime”.
He argued that wind and solar, backed by the Snowy Mountains hydro project, would provide cheaper electricity for families, but did not mention the current government subsidies for renewables, which were recently estimated at $536 a year on household electricity bills by economist Dr Alan Moran.
“So those people arguing for coal or nuclear or for gas, they’re actually arguing more expensive, dirtier forms of energy,” Mr Kean said.
“So my view is that governments should be supporting technology, which will deliver the cheapest form of reliable energy possible.
“And right now, that’s not gas. That’s not coal, that’s certainly not nuclear. It’s wind and solar backed up by pumped hydro and batteries.”
“If you’re a betting person and you saw cheaper forms of cleaner technology coming down the pipeline, let me tell you, you won’t be betting taxpayer dollars on gas,” he said.
The Coalition for Conservation lobby group was set up by Liberal powerbroker and lobbyist Michael Photios’ wife Kristina, and holds forums to encourage Liberals to campaign on climate change.
Mr Kean also said if Joe Biden wins office in the US in November, he would have a net zero carbon emission policy for 2050.