Guy Barnett,Minister for Energy
The Hodgman majority Liberal Government welcomes Hydro Tasmania’s report that shows Tasmania’s Battery of the Nation initiative can provide Victoria with energy security and help them transition to an affordable, reliable clean energy future.
The Government’s number one priority is to create jobs, grow the economy and protect the Tasmanian way of life, and renewable energy is one of Tasmania’s greatest economic opportunities for the next decade.
The white paper, How Battery of the Nation can contribute to Victoria’s energy needs and objectives, outlines the opportunity to support Victoria and how Tasmania can provide not just renewable energy, but the most cost-competitive storage options.
Last summer more than 200,000 Victorian homes and businesses had their power cut or limited as the state’s electricity supply buckled under the extreme heat.
Tasmania played a key role in helping to keep the lights and air conditioners on in Victoria, delivering urgently needed power through the existing interconnector, Basslink.
Our Battery of the Nation pumped hydro plans, new wind farm projects and 1,500 megawatt second interconnector is set to create 2,400 new jobs and inject $6.5 billion into the Tasmanian economy over the coming years.
Importantly, Tasmanians come first, and our Tasmania First Energy policy is focused on delivering Tasmanian residents and businesses amongst the lowest regulated electricity prices in the nation. We are on track to be 100 per cent self-sufficient in renewables by 2022.
This is nation building infrastructure, and the Australian and Tasmanian Governments are working cooperatively together to support Australia’s energy needs as we look to progress the Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation projects.
