Tasmania needs to urgently invest in more on-island renewable energy generation to pull the state out of the energy crisis we find ourselves in after 10 years of a Liberal government.
A new report has found Tasmania moved from being a net exporter of power in 2021-22 to a net importer of power in 2022-231.
The report shows that Tasmania was the second biggest net importer of power in the National Electricity Market over the past financial year, behind only New South Wales.
The figures are further proof that Tasmania is running out of energy, backing up the TCCI’s warnings that the state was in the middle of an energy crisis and demonstrating the urgent need to invest in more on-island generation.
The reliance on imported energy also casts doubt on the Liberal Government’s claims about Tasmania’s 100 per cent renewable status.
Now Tasmania has become a net importer of electricity – mainly coal-fired power from Victoria – our clean, green status is at risk.
Tasmania needs more renewable energy generation as soon as possible.
We have the best wind resource in the country, but our state is the hardest place in Australia to build a windfarm, with no new renewable energy investments committed to the state in the last five years.
A Labor government will make resolving the challenges facing windfarm projects in this state a priority for our first term in office.
By harnessing our world-class wind resource we will be able to support the current and future needs of our state and the future growth of our major industries.
1Australian Energy Regulator, State of the Energy Market, https://www.aer.gov.au/system/files/State%20of%20the%20energy%20market%20%28SOTEM%29%202023_18_10_23.pdf , p67
Rebecca White MP
Tasmanian Labor Leader
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Energy and Renewables
