RENEWABLE ENERGY — COLLIE
251. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Energy:
(1) Is the
government working on a comprehensive strategy to transition out of coal to
renewables for power generation?
(2) If yes to
(1), when is it expected to be completed?
(3) If no to (1),
why not?
(4) Is the
government working with the residents of Collie and the surrounding areas, who
will be impacted by the transition to renewables, in order to develop a plan
for continuing employment options; and, if yes, please provide detail of what
has been done to date?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. As that question asks about detail, it is quite a long
answer; I am just warning you, Madam President. The following information has
been provided to me by the Minister for Energy.
(1) It is now
well recognised that a major transformation is underway in the electricity
sector. Newer technologies, such as rooftop solar, large-scale wind and solar
farms, and battery storage are increasingly displacing energy supplied from
traditional thermal generation sources, such as coal and gas-fired power
stations. This is happening regardless of government policy.
The McGowan government has three key
bodies of work to ensure this transition is managed. Firstly, it has a ''Whole
of System Plan'' to take a structured, coordinated approach to planning,
developing and investing in our power systems, bringing together key players to
deliver a shared vision. Secondly, it has a distributed energy resources
roadmap to guide the integration of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems, battery
storage and energy management systems and, in future, other technologies like
electric vehicles. Thirdly, it has an economic development plan for the Collie–Bunbury
region, which identifies opportunities for attracting a diverse range of
industries to Collie and provides a just transition plan for Collie workers.
(2) The ''Whole
of System Plan'' will be delivered in mid-2020. The DER roadmap will be
delivered by the end of this year. The EDPCB will be delivered later this year.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) Yes. The
McGowan government is undertaking significant work to diversify the economic
opportunities in the Collie region so that we can create more jobs for local
people to help maintain the community into the future. An economic development
plan is being developed, which includes exploration of emerging industries,
expansion of existing industries and opportunities for attracting new
industries to industrial land in the region. In undertaking this, members of
the ministerial steering committee for the economic development plan for the
Collie and Bunbury regions have attended community meetings and meetings with
workers and unions, as well as engaging leaders from the local community in
structured working groups. Already, the Collie Futures small grants program and
the Collie Futures industry development fund have attracted significant
interest from prospective investors in Collie. Through the new, four-year $18 million
industry development fund, announced on 18 January 2019, the government will
provide individual grants of up to $2 million in financial support to companies
establishing or expanding their operations to create more job opportunities for
local people. The government has already provided $900 000 towards feasibility
studies and other funding support for 11 projects through the small grants
program, which will kickstart new opportunities in tourism, agriculture and
aquaculture and industries of the future.
Through these initiatives, the
government will identify new industry, employment and training opportunities,
and diversify the economic opportunities in Collie so that we can create more
jobs for local people to help maintain the community into the future.