NSW Parliament is currently conducting another inquiry into the undergrounding of transmission lines. Increased transmission infrastructure is vital for Australia to meet its climate targets under the Paris agreement and undergrounding is both cost prohibitive and slows further Australia’s ability to transition to a clean energy network.
The Minns government previously ruled out undergrounding the transmission lines for HumeLink due to cost. This new inquiry has since been established.
On Monday November 27 the inquiry will be hearing evidence from key industry stakeholders. The Clean Energy Investor Group (CEIG) has made a submission to the inquiry and will appear at the hearing – its Policy Director Marilyne Crestias and CEO Simon Corbell are both available to comment on the issue.
CEIG CEO Simon Corbell said: “Australia is lagging on its 82% renewables target, primarily due to the slow deployment of new transmission and Renewable Energy Zone infrastructure, as well as regulatory hurdles within the sector. All the while, investors are increasingly drawn to significant opportunities in the United States driven by the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.
“Innovative Australian investors have the capital and the vision to ensure limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is within our grasp.
“Community consultation is vital and good projects that minimise environmental impacts are entirely possible without the expense and construction time – time we don’t have – for undergrounding.
“We just need State and Federal governments to provide the right policy settings and we can achieve an economy which is both clean energy based and provides sustainable jobs and growth for our children’s future.”
ENDS
Contact details:
To arrange interviews, please contact:
Rebecca Gredley 0484 008 095 rebecca.gredley@climatemediacentre.org.au
Danielle Veldre 0408 972 997 danielle.veldre@climatemediacentre.org.au