UPDATE: The Queensland Government has just unveiled its urgent Energy Roadmap, aimed at delivering affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all Queenslanders. This strategic plan, announced by David Janetzki, Treasurer and Minister for Energy, promises to significantly reduce energy costs while enhancing existing infrastructure.
The Energy Roadmap is designed to put downward pressure on energy prices, optimizing investments to safeguard taxpayer money and attract private sector funding. This initiative directly counters the previous Labor Government’s costly energy plans, which led to projections of $26 billion in excess costs by 2035. Households could have faced an additional $1,035 annually under Labor’s proposals.
Key components of the Roadmap include:
– A robust $400 million Queensland Energy Investment Fund and the Queensland Investment Corporation’s new Investor Gateway to stimulate private sector investment in energy generation.
– A $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee to enhance current energy assets.
– A tender for 400 MW of new gas-fired generation in Central Queensland.
– Initiatives for community-level batteries, aimed at increasing solar storage and managing energy loads efficiently.
Janetzki emphasized that this plan is rooted in practical economics and engineering rather than ideology. “Our Energy Roadmap delivers what Queenslanders need, which is affordable and reliable energy that enhances their quality of life, fuels economic growth, and ensures long-term sustainability,” he stated. This approach is designed to make Queensland an attractive destination for private investment, ultimately creating jobs and driving economic development.
The roadmap further includes the construction of the Eastern Link of the CopperString transmission line in North Queensland and the initiation of work on the Western Link. Additionally, it establishes Regional Energy Hubs to minimize development costs and optimize energy management.
Janetzki also confirmed the cancellation of the previous government’s plan to close coal units by 2035, stating the importance of maintaining Queensland’s youngest coal-fired fleet as a vital component of the energy system. “State-owned coal generators will continue to operate for as long as they are needed,” he asserted, underscoring the economic rationale behind the roadmap.
The Energy Roadmap is backed by extensive consultation with industry stakeholders and is designed to keep energy prices competitive while planning for future needs. It aims to provide a stable framework for energy developers, encouraging them to invest in sustainable infrastructures.
As the Crisafulli Government takes decisive action, the focus remains on ensuring that Queensland residents receive the energy solutions they deserve without the financial burden of inflated costs.
For ongoing updates, visit the official treasury site at www.treasury.qld.gov.au/energy-roadmap.
