Premier must rule out further delays after extraordinary statement on critical transmission link

Environment Victoria today expressed alarm at Premier Ben Carroll’s extraordinary decision to review the Western Renewables Link.

Only yesterday, Energy Minister Jaclyn Symes tore into the Opposition’s plans to pause the Western Renewables Link and cancel the VNI West transmission project, telling the AFR “the cost is devastating. The cost is energy insecurity. The cost is people’s bills going up.”

Minister Symes told the AFR “you have to think long-term about the grid, give industry confidence and carry through with what you’ve said you will do.”

“Minister Symes is correct. Without transmission you don’t have wind and solar. Without wind and solar you don’t have affordable power and you can’t keep the lights on. It’s as simple as that” said Environment Victoria CEO Jono La Nauze.

“Our coal power stations are coming to the end of their life and no matter what we do, we have to replace them. The cheapest option is clean, reliable wind and solar.

“Independent experts Nexa Advisory have found it would cost Victorians $33 billion if we delay building new wind, solar, storage and transmission lines.

“That’s a cost of $472 to a typical household, $4,719 to a small business and $11,797 for a large business – and the cost is even higher if these projects are cancelled.

“The Western Renewables Link is foundational to Victoria’s future energy system. Without it we kiss goodbye to the vast untapped wind and solar resources in the west of the state, leaving Victoria’s electricity system less reliable, more prone to blackouts and increasingly reliant on extremely expensive gas generation.

“Premier Carroll must explain how he will keep the lights on and energy bills down if the Western Renewables Link is delayed. What we need now is facts and certainty – not risky delays.”