Premier Chris Minns has conceded the path to reaching net zero emissions in NSW by 2050 will be “very narrow”, while again suggesting the government may buy back Eraring power station to avoid energy shortages.
On Friday, the premier dismissed the ambitious emission reduction target of 70 per cent by 2035 set by the former government as “some media release” while saying his government’s own target would be “tricky” to meet.
NSW Premier Chris Minns with the Deputy Premier Prue Car in Penrith on Friday. Credit: Bianca De Marchi
The previous energy minister Matt Kean announced in December last year that the state would set a new emission reduction target of 70 per cent off 2005 levels by 2035, insisting no new policies would be needed to meet the goal.
But on Friday, Minns raised doubts about its feasibility because of delays and cost blowouts on some of the state’s Renewable Energy Zones.
“We’re dealing with Renewable Energy Zones that are potentially hugely behind their initial start date and completion date, which is putting pressure on the existing baseload power network in NSW,” Minns said.
The premier has previously raised the prospect the government may intervene to help keep Eraring, Australia’s biggest coal-fired power station, open beyond its 2025 closure date.
On Friday, he gave his strongest indication to date that an extension could be on the cards because “the pace of renewable energy coming online in NSW has been so slow”.
“[It] means we have to revisit some of the existing infrastructure, particularly when it comes to baseload power in the state because [the former government] were so slow at getting planning approvals, and renewable energy zones up and running,” he said.
The comments come on the same day Victorian premier Daniel Andrews announced a ban on gas connections at new homes in the state from 2024, something Minns said he had no plans to adopt.
Before the election Labor committed to legislating an emission reduction target of a 50 per cent reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
It plans to establish a Net Zero Commission to help it reach that target, and a publicly owned energy security corporation to accelerate renewable energy production.
On Friday, a spokesman for energy minister Penny Sharpe reiterated those commitments, but senior sources said the government had not signed up to Kean’s 70 per cent target.
Minns said while he was confident the government would still reach its own goal, the path would be “tricky”.
“We’re prepared to legislate [but] we’ve got a tricky road to navigate when it comes to getting these REZ’s on board, as well as ensuring that the lights stay on,” he said.
“We think that there’s a pathway there, but it’s pretty narrow, and it’s tricky, but I’m confident we can get there.”
Kean was hugely critical of the government for walking away from the 70 per cent reduction target, which he said the state had been on target to meet while the Coalition was in government.
“The future of our planet and economy is too important to be left in the hands of a low energy and low ambition leader,” he said.
“Now is the time for courage and vision not someone who will run and hide at the first sign of difficulty.”
Minns’ comments come amid increasingly desperate calls from world leaders for the need for a rapid decarbonisation of the global economy. On Thursday, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said the record-breaking July temperatures show the Earth has moved into an “era of global boiling”. Scientists believe July may be the hottest month in 120,000 years.
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