The Opposition has an energy policy – and Roger Cook seems to want to follow it

The Member for the South West and Shadow Minister for Energy Minister Dr Steve Thomas has today laughed off suggestions by the Premier Roger Cook that the Liberal Party had no energy policy.

“My energy policy was announced and released on the 26th of May 2024, nearly five months ago” Dr Thomas said.

“That policy committed to keeping the lights on and air conditioners running as we transition to more renewable generation and storage at a cost that consumers can afford by:

o   extending the lifespan of existing coal generators where necessary and where possible until renewable generation supported by gas generation backup and energy storage can meet the needs of the state.

o   building 300MW of new gas generation capacity, either by Government or the private sector.

o   continuing with the current Government’s battery and wind farm construction to deliver the 4,400 megawatt hours of lithium battery storage and the additional 810 megawatts of wind generation capacity.

o   carefully watching technological advances in all areas of electricity generation and storage and adopt them when they are proven economic and productivity performers. This may include nuclear generation in the future if the business case stacks up and advances in technology allow it to fit into our unique western energy market.

“Roger Cook already seems to be following rather than leading in the energy policy debate, especially given his recent comments” Dr Thomas said.

On the 7th of August the Premier told the Parliament that:

“We believe that wind and energy storage and solar will play a key role in the interim period and that we do not need a new coal-fired power station today. We will need one at some point in the future as part of a firming program of renewable energy and energy storage, but the Australian Energy Market Operator has said in its projections that that is in the medium term, not in the immediate term.”

Dr Thomas said the Premier had mistakenly suggested another coal fires power station when he obviously meant another gas fired one, which he said was confirmed by the answer to his question yesterday (attached) in which Premier Cook confirmed “the use of gas as a firming fuel”.

“I don’t blame the Premier for the coal-gas mix up in his statement because energy is a highly complex area, although he could have answered my question properly” Dr Thomas said.

“I am simply pleased that the Government has caught up with the Opposition, because stability in energy policy is important to industry, who struggle with seismic shifts in policy.

“As I have repeatedly said, we need to use gas as a transition fuel to get us to a cleaner energy future in coming decades, whatever that future looks like.

“Western Australia is a gas energy state, and we need to use our natural advantages to ensure we keep energy costs during the transition to a level that Western Australian consumers and families can afford.

“It looks like Roger Cook is slowly catching up.”

-ENDS-