The green light for a $150 million solar farm near the NSW town of Bungendore is a positive step towards replacing the state’s polluting coal-fired power generation with new renewable energy sources, according to the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.
“The approval of the state’s largest solar farm is an exciting opportunity for powering ahead with renewable energy development in NSW,” Chief Executive Officer Pepe Clarke said today.
“Another 10,000 homes running on solar power is an important step towards a better future when every single household in NSW runs on the cleanest energy possible.
“Replacing fossil fuelled power sources with world-class renewable energy would secure our state’s energy security, create new jobs, stimulate economic growth and help make the deep cuts needed to carbon pollution.
“Australia’s potential for large-scale solar power has been estimated at a massive 9000MW by 2020, yet NSW has fallen behind other states in investing in clean energy technologies.
“Our state’s abundant solar energy resource could make us a world leader in renewable technologies if only our political leaders would rise to the challenge of achieving a rapid transition to a clean energy economy.
“Despite the adoption of a long‐term emissions reduction target, action by the NSW government has, to date, proven inadequate. NSW carbon pollution continues to climb.
“Current proposals to approve two new polluting power stations and establish a state‐run coal mine to provide heavily subsidised coal for polluting power stations are both reckless and hypocritical.
“The next NSW government must rise to the challenge of leading us out of the dark ages with strategic investment in large-scale renewable energy projects for the good of the environment and community,” he said.
