Union calls for Tasmanian power to be used to fire local projects not exported
A Tasmanian union branch says its time to ditch plans for a second power cable under the Bass Strait and keep power generated here to fire hydrogen developments. LATEST >>
Tasmania
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A POWERFUL union has backed a mining magnate’s plan to build a hydrogen plant at Bell Bay saying exporting power generated here rather than using it to fire local industry will “bite Tasmania on the arse.”
Fortescue owner Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest on Tuesday told the State Government it needed to act fast and lock in the power supply needed to back his planned investment in a hydrogen plant at Bell Bay.
At the weekend, Dr Forrest announced he would be building a $1b electrolyser plant in Queensland and was looking for other green energy opportunities including Tasmania.
But he said his Tasmanian investment hinged on the government getting on with the job.
AMWU Tasmanian organiser John Short said it was time for the government to walk away from its plan for a second undersea power connector to send our power to Victoria.
Instead, he said, Tasmania should keep the power it generates to fire local industry.
“By the time the Marinus Link would be in operation, mainland states will have moved on and have their own renewables,” Mr Short said.
“Marinus will end up as an expensive white elephant - or a white snake that will end up biting us on the arse,” Mr Short said.
“If we export power to the mainland we will be exporting jobs, good well paid jobs, value added jobs, jobs for our kids and grandkids
“Lets embrace the vision of Eric Reece for the Hydro to provide cheap reliable power for us in Tasmania and attract more big business.”
The AMWU was planning to raise a motion calling for a rethink at the now-cancelled annual Tasmanian Labor conference.
The union said it was “unashamedly opposed” to the proposed Marinus Link interconnector.
“The state-owned Hydro was built as a way to have cheap, reliable power and to bring
industry to Tasmania,” the motion said.
“All Marinus Link would do is send Tasmania’s competitive advantage - renewable hydro energy - to the mainland.”
“In the new age of companies branding themselves as clean and green to consumers, these
companies could set up on the mainland and market themselves as using renewable energy
through hydro power sent via Marinus Link with little or no downstream economic or social
benefits to Tasmania.”
The union said private and foreign owned wind farms in Tasmania relied on the proposed Marinus Link to access the mainland NEM market.
“Yet there are next to no on-going jobs in these wind farms and next to no on-going jobs in Marinus,” the motion said.
“Proposals such as foreign owned private wind farms and Marinus Link are of dubious value
when considering overall advantages to the average Tasmanian consumer. Basslink provides a powerful argument to just how costly these projects become to the taxpayers of Tasmania.”
Boost for undersea power cable set to deliver renewable energy
AN ambitious $3.5bn plan to deliver Tasmanian renewable energy to 1.5 million interstate homes has taken a step forward.
Environmental assessments have been lodged with Commonwealth and Victorian regulators for the Marinus Link interconnector.
The plan 255 kilometres of undersea high voltage cable to deliver up to 1500 megawatts into the mainland market by 2029-30.
The Australian Energy Market Operator and the Australian Government have declared Marinus Link a national priority project.
Who is funding the construction phase of the project is still unknown.
Marinus Link General Manager Bess Clark said those doing the planning were committed to sustainable development.
“Marinus Link will unlock Tasmania’s abundant, low-cost wind resources, existing hydro and new pumped hydro storage facilities to provide low-cost, reliable and ‘on-demand’ clean energy to Australian homes and businesses across the National Electricity Market,” she said.
“From Cairns to Hobart, millions of Australian households and businesses will be better off with a future energy grid with Marinus Link, compared to a future grid without it.
“Along with downward pressure on prices and a more reliable grid, Marinus Link will cut emissions, deliver 2800 direct and indirect jobs in both Tasmania and Victoria, and unlock a pipeline of future renewable energy development, with thousands more jobs.
Minister for Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Guy Barnett said Project Marinus is would plug Tasmania’s low cost, reliable and clean energy generation capacity directly into the national grid.
”Underpinned by the Government’s ambitious 200 per cent renewable energy target, Project Marinus and the clean energy it unlocks will keep downward pressure on energy prices and deliver thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment to Tasmania,” he said.
“The project has achieved another critical milestone with the submission of its Commonwealth and Victorian environmental referrals. This will provide further opportunities for engagement and allow the community to have their say.
“The Australian and Tasmanian Governments are working together to achieve a fair cost allocation methodology for the project, which is vital to ensure our Tasmanian customers only pay their fair share.’”
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