North Queensland gets Clean Energy Jobs Boost
21 May 2021: North Queensland gets Clean Energy Jobs Boost
The Queensland government has just announced the first stage of their Renewable Energy Zone roll out, a move that is celebrated by community group Solar Citizens.
The Premier today announced the government would invest $40 million to upgrade transmission lines in Far North Queensland, creating 97 jobs for local workers and enabling projects like the Kaban Green Power Hub to proceed.
“It’s wonderful to see the state government delivering on their pre-election commitments and driving new clean energy job opportunities in North and Far North Queensland,” said Stephanie Gray, Solar Citizens Energy Strategist.
“This announcement comes just after federal Minister Keith Pitt intervened and stopped the Kaban wind and battery plant from getting federal funding.
“So far the Morrison government has failed to invest in future-proof clean energy jobs for Queenslanders, so it’s really great to see the state stepping up and filling that gap.
“North Queensland has incredible wind resources that blow in the afternoon and at night, making it very compatible with solar energy.
“Because of these incredible renewable energy resources, companies are looking to start manufacturing things locally to take advantage of this cheap energy.
“Just in Townsville alone there are several manufacturing proposals for products like renewable hydrogen and electric vehicle batteries, which will create good, long-term jobs.
“But we need about 3,000MW of new solar, wind and storage generation to come online in the north so these manufacturing projects can be competitively powered by cheap renewable energy.”
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Media contact: Stephanie Gray 0425543006
