Talking Points
Don’t forget to:
Bailing out Origin Energy is a bad deal for taxpayers
Origin already tried to get a bail out from the last Coalition government, but an expert panel found it was a bad deal for taxpayers and would set a dangerous precedent ...
Talking Points
Don’t forget to:
Bailing out Origin Energy is a bad deal for taxpayers
Origin already tried to get a bail out from the last Coalition government, but an expert panel found it was a bad deal for taxpayers and would set a dangerous precedent.
Ageing coal-fired power stations are unreliable and when they break down, it causes chaos for the energy grid. Keeping them running doesn’t provide reliable power.
Keeping coal power stations open for longer also makes the business case harder for companies wanting to build new wind and solar projects.
Bailing out coal power would break faith with the community.
Remind your MP that Labor made election promises to “accelerate” the transition to renewable energy, and set up a publicly-owned Energy Security Corporation to invest $1bn in clean energy. Bailing out a coal fired power station is doing the opposite of both those promises.
This decision would make it almost impossible for NSW to meet its climate targets
NSW’s climate target of 50% reduction by 2030 relies on reducing coal power emissions by 4 million tonnes every year, according to government projections. Propping up Eraring would make it next to impossible to meet Labor's agreed climate targets.
Eraring’s climate emissions are truly huge, at over 13 million tonnes per year. Every year it’s kept open, the coal power station’s emissions are equivalent to the entire NSW passenger fleet of 4.4 million cars.
Deliver cheaper, cleaner energy
The NSW Government should heed the advice from the clean energy industry that extending Eraring would chill investment in renewables, and overlooks the various solutions to close the reliability gap with renewables + storage.
Modelling by Climate Energy Finance shows closing Eraring and Vales Point Power Stations is achievable by accelerating investment in renewable energy.
A Nexa Advisory report shows there is enough renewable energy and storage projects in the pipeline to close Eraring on time.
Delaying Eraring’s closure is unpopular and unhealthy
Polling shows 63% of NSW residents agree the government should prioritise funding renewable energy over delaying the closure of Eraring Coal-Fired Power Station.
NSW’s coal plants are old and much more polluting than average. They are a major contributor to air pollution, asthma and cardiovascular diseases, particularly in children.
The decision to spend public money extending the life of Eraring Power Station is coming to a head. Eraring is Australia’s largest coal fired power station, and unless it closes as scheduled, NSW (and Australia) will fail to meet our already weak climate targets.
Instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to cut power bills by investing in renewable energy, the Minns Government is considering spending even more public money to keep Eraring open past its closure date. The best estimate is that this would cost taxpayers $120m-150m each year.
Please write* to the NSW Government**, demanding that they invest in renewable energy rather than spend taxpayer money subsidising coal.
* Ensure you change the text to include your own words within the email body or it won't send.
** If you aren't in a Labor electorate you can email the Upper House.