Environmental groups Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), Australian Youth Climate Coalition and Environment Victoria joined forces on Tuesday to demand the government follow through on a pledge to close down 2000-megawatts of the country's dirtiest power generation by 2020.
Environment Victoria's campaign director Mark Wakeham said the government had passed the deadline for contracts to be finalised.
He said it was a one-off opportunity for energy companies to retire old, inefficient assets.
"It's an opportunity that they should be grabbing and that won't come again," Mr Wakeham said.
Sign the petition to Replace Hazelwood here >