Preserving Victoria’s coal-fired power plants is the answer to Ararat residents and business struggling with increased power bills.
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That’s according to Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy.
When asked what he would do about Ararat’s high rate of debt collections for utility bills and major manufacturers facing steep price rises in their new power contracts, Mr Guy said Victoria needed to develop ‘clean coal’ as well as renewable energy.
“The first point is that with the closure of Hazelwood (Power Station), we need a commitment from the government that Yallourn W will not close,” Mr Guy said.
“If Yallourn W closes, power prices will go up another 40 per cent. We cannot afford Yallourn W closing and this government has made no commitment to coal-fired power stations.
“From our point of view, we want to see Yallourn W kept open, complimenting Loy Yang A to put that extra 1600 megawatts back into the state’s power grid.”
Mr Guy said Victoria needed a plan for “a sensible transition” to new forms of power before any older coal stations were closed.
“We are importing power from Tasmania. Two years ago we were a net exporter of power. When you import power you pay more, it’s as simple as that,” he said.
“We all want to see renewable energy but it has got to be done sensibly. You can’t just close everything and hope wind will get you by. We don’t have the supply of solar and wind in the grid to alleviate baseline closures so you can’t just let those stations close.
“We will make sure (coal power stations) are open to at least 2030 to make sure we have a sensible way to transition to either new baseload coal technology, which is cleaner, or to renewables, whatever is available at the time.”
Friends of the Earth spokesperson Leigh Ewbank said Mr Guy’s policy would expose the community to climate change impacts.
“You cant talk energy without talking climate change so Matthew Guy's proposal to continue burning polluting coal exposes the community to climate change impacts,” My Ewbank said
“Rolling out solar and wind farms through the Victorian Renewable Energy Target is the best way to put downward pressure on power bills and it has the added benefit of helping Victoria meet state climate change laws.
“Vowing to keep aging coal power plants online gives a blank cheque to the polluters and that means less money will be available for hospitals, schools, and climate initiatives.”
Ripon MP Louise Staley has been a frequent critic of the Victorian Renewable Energy Target, telling parliament last year that the scheme was “hurting” employment and businesses in Ararat and Ripon.
Labor candidate for Ripon in the 2018 state election Sarah De Santis said last month that staying with emissions-intensive power generation would not help the region.
“No one in our region believes coal is the answer to our energy woes,” she said.