Nature Conservation Council: Giving handouts to coal power stations is just throwing more fuel on the fire

The Federal Government must withdraw its $11 million grant offer to help coal baron Trevor St Baker upgrade his Vales Point power station and use the money to support clean energy and storage.

The Daily Telegraph reported today the government was set to approve the Vales Point grant application from a company that has already been a multi-million-dollar beneficiary of government decisions. [1]

“How much free money do Australians have to hand to big fossil fuel energy companies before we realise that there is a cheaper, clean and more reliable energy option?” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said.

“Every day, over 100 MW of clean power is being wasted in Western NSW because of a failure to plan sensible upgrades to the grid, and yet the federal government is handing millions to a coal power station near Sydney.” [2]

Mr St Baker, the owner of Vales Point coal-fired power station on the central coast applied for taxpayer subsidies under the Federal Government’s  Underwriting New Generation Investments Program. 

“At a time when bushfire seasons are worse than ever and people are crying out for leadership, giving handouts to coal power stations is just throwing more fuel on the fire,” Mr Gambian said.

“The government should have a plan for the orderly closure of coal-fired power stations and their replacement with clean energy.” 

Mr St Baker has a record of gaining from government decisions. He bought Vales Point power station from the NSW Government for $1 million in 2015 and made $113 million in profit on the deal in 2017-18. [1]

Mr St Baker is a regular political donor, and ex National party candidate. 

REFERENCES

[1] 23-1-19 – Newcastle Herald - The man who bought Vales Point power station from the NSW Government for a song has new plans for the site 

[2]  'Economic brink': Solar plants curtailed as grid links stall, SMH, 10-2-20