Another busy week, so I will be posting a few newsworthy articles before Saturday’s update.




The new target is for 70% of Queensland’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2032, compared to the previous target of 50% renewables by 2030.

When announcing plans for the largest publicly-owned wind farm in Australia on Monday, Palaszczuk said renewable projects currently made up about 21% of Queensland’s energy market.

Queensland is expected to release further details of its plans to reduce emissions later today. It’s currently aiming for a reduction of 30% below 2005 levels by 2030, well below targets of 50% in Victoria and New South Wales.

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Annastacia Palaszczuk - Queensland energy plan to include $4bn of new investment in next four years

Climate change is real and its impacts are real and its impacts on Queensland are real. We need to act, and act in a revolutionary way.

Our massive Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan is all about cheaper, cleaner energy putting downward pressure on household energy bills.

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The Queensland government says its energy corporation Stanwell, a major provider of electricity, plans to build Australia's largest state-owned wind farm in the South Burnett region.

Key points:


  • The government says the wind farm will power up to 230,000 homes
  • The premier is expected to make another major energy announcement in Wednesday's State of the State address
  • Queensland has committed to achieving 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030
  • The proposal would see the Tarong West Wind Farm built at Ironpot, 30 kilometres south-west of Kingaroy.


The government has announced a $776 million injection of funds for the project, which will be drawn from the state's $2 billion Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs fund.

"This project with up to 150 turbines could generate 500MW capacity, enough clean electricity to power up to 230,000 homes," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

"It's investments like this that will ensure we deliver on our net-zero ambitions and our promise to Queenslanders to become a global renewable energy superpower," she said.

The government has committed to achieve 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, and zero net emissions by 2050.

Currently more than 20 per cent of the state's electricity is produced from renewable energy sources — including rooftop solar and solar and wind farms.

It is expected the project will involve around 200 construction jobs and 15 ongoing jobs when it becomes operational.

The Premier will today visit the site, in the state's Southern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone, ahead of what she said will be major announcement on energy and climate change on Wednesday.

A final decision on the wind farm proposal is expected in 2024.

If approved, construction would begin the same year with the wind farm to become operational from 2026.

Ms Palaszczuk said there were 50 renewable energy projects operating or committed across Queensland.

"That's billions of dollars already invested in setting us up to capitalise on the jobs, industries, and exports of the future," she said.

"We are now focused on what the next decade will look like, and I'll have a lot more to say on this in this week's CEDA State of the State address."

Treasurer Cameron Dick said the project would boost Stanwell's asset portfolio, and was expected to provide substantial commercial value — giving it dispatch control of significant renewable generation capacity.

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Queensland will end its reliance on coal-fired power generation by 2035 – up to a decade earlier than planned – as part of its new energy plan to have 70 per cent renewable energy by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2035.

Pumped hydro and the creation of “super grids” to connect 2 gigawatts of new renewable projects form part of the plan launched by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the state will turn to renewable energy and away from coal. AAP

Previously, Queensland’s younger fleet of government-owned coal-fired power stations were due to run into the 2040s. The newer 1445-megawatt Stanwell plant, which was only commissioned in 1993, was not due to close until 2044 to 2045.

Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland would not be reliant on coal power by 2035, but the stations would remain as back-up until pumped-hydro projects were operational.

“This plan is all about cheaper, cleaner and secure energy for Queenslanders,” she said. “Renewable energy is the cheapest form of new energy. This plan makes Queensland the renewable energy capital of the world.

“It also takes real and decisive action on climate change providing the biggest commitment to renewable energy in Australia’s history.”

Queensland had already committed to a 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030.

But the coal-rich state is still heavily reliant on black coal which accounts for about 75 per cent of power generation each day.

Renewable energy currently accounts for about 21 per cent of the state’s total power generation.

The Queensland jobs and energy plan will include $62 billion of investment in the energy network until 2035, including $6 billion over the next four years.

The so-called “super grid” will deliver about 1500 kilometres of transmission lines from Brisbane up to North Queensland and west to Hughenden.

The 500-kilovolt transmission lines will be the largest constructed in Queensland and help support 22 gigawatts of new wind and solar power.

The plan commits to two new pumped-hydro power stations as well as battery and wind projects.

Ms Palaszczuk vowed household power bills will be lower under the pivot to renewable power.

The government will also create a $150 million job transition fund to help coal workers find jobs as part of a low-emissions economy. The new jobs guarantee was negotiated with trade unions.

“What this plan does is give certainty for workers and certainty for investors,” Ms Palaszczuk told the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia lunch.

“The guarantee will support workers with access to reskilling, transfer to new opportunities and advice on future career pathways.

“Under the jobs and energy plan there will be more job opportunities.”

The government said there should be replacement jobs in maintenance for renewable hubs, technicians for the new super grid and for building new battery technologies.