PREMIER BLIGH TURNS SOD AT $780M DOWNS’ GAS POWER STATION
Published Friday, 02 November, 2007 at 11:40 AM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Premier Anna Bligh was on the Darling Downs today to mark another milestone in Queensland’s cleaner energy industry with the sod turning of Origin Energy’s $780 million gas-fired power station.
Ms Bligh said on completion in 2010, the 630MW station would be the biggest of its kind in Australia and emit about half the greenhouse emissions of a conventional power station.
“Coal seam gas is a clean energy source and when this station is on-line, it will produce 2.5 million tonnes a year less than a conventional power station of its size – which is the equivalent of taking 600,000 cars off the road,” Ms Bligh said.
“Gas-fired energy is an exciting fuel source that has created a whole new industry in the Smart State and already, coal seam gas projects have yielded around $1 billion worth of development across the state.
“We expect this investment to continue at more than $160 million a year and this means local jobs and a further boost to our regional economy.
“This Origin power station and associated coal seam gas development alone will create an average of 440 jobs during the construction phases, and up to 55 jobs when operational.
“Many of these regional communities have been hit hard by drought in recent years and the rich source of energy in the Surat Basin has the potential to turn towns like Dalby, Miles and Chinchilla into economic powerhouses.”
Ms Bligh said her Government was committed to investing in a range of initiatives to encourage new technology, renewable energy and smarter energy use.
“The $40 million Queensland Energy Policy has helped diversify the State’s generation mix with alternatives such as hydro and gas.
“Our world-leading 13% gas scheme requires retailers and other large electricity users to source at least 13 percent of their electricity from gas-fired generation. Under ClimateSmart 2050, this will increase to 18 percent by 2020.
“And as a result, Queensland has around 3,000 megawatts of gas-fired generation projects currently under consideration,” she said.
Ms Bligh congratulated Origin on its innovative program attached to the project offering scholarships and driver training for Dalby school students.
“As part of its significant investment in the Darling Downs region, Origin has committed to funding two new community skills scholarships to encourage local students to take up a school-based or full-time apprenticeship, as well as a driver training program for learner drivers at schools and the agricultural college in the Dalby region.
“This is a great way for Origin invest in and work with the local community and I congratulate the company on its innovation,” she said.
The new Origin Energy gas-fired power station is 40km west of Dalby and on-completion will generate enough power to supply the equivalent of 400,000 Queensland homes and use less than three percent of the water a conventional coal-fired station would use, or 200ML versus 8000ML each year.
ENDS
Media contact: 3224 4500
Ms Bligh said on completion in 2010, the 630MW station would be the biggest of its kind in Australia and emit about half the greenhouse emissions of a conventional power station.
“Coal seam gas is a clean energy source and when this station is on-line, it will produce 2.5 million tonnes a year less than a conventional power station of its size – which is the equivalent of taking 600,000 cars off the road,” Ms Bligh said.
“Gas-fired energy is an exciting fuel source that has created a whole new industry in the Smart State and already, coal seam gas projects have yielded around $1 billion worth of development across the state.
“We expect this investment to continue at more than $160 million a year and this means local jobs and a further boost to our regional economy.
“This Origin power station and associated coal seam gas development alone will create an average of 440 jobs during the construction phases, and up to 55 jobs when operational.
“Many of these regional communities have been hit hard by drought in recent years and the rich source of energy in the Surat Basin has the potential to turn towns like Dalby, Miles and Chinchilla into economic powerhouses.”
Ms Bligh said her Government was committed to investing in a range of initiatives to encourage new technology, renewable energy and smarter energy use.
“The $40 million Queensland Energy Policy has helped diversify the State’s generation mix with alternatives such as hydro and gas.
“Our world-leading 13% gas scheme requires retailers and other large electricity users to source at least 13 percent of their electricity from gas-fired generation. Under ClimateSmart 2050, this will increase to 18 percent by 2020.
“And as a result, Queensland has around 3,000 megawatts of gas-fired generation projects currently under consideration,” she said.
Ms Bligh congratulated Origin on its innovative program attached to the project offering scholarships and driver training for Dalby school students.
“As part of its significant investment in the Darling Downs region, Origin has committed to funding two new community skills scholarships to encourage local students to take up a school-based or full-time apprenticeship, as well as a driver training program for learner drivers at schools and the agricultural college in the Dalby region.
“This is a great way for Origin invest in and work with the local community and I congratulate the company on its innovation,” she said.
The new Origin Energy gas-fired power station is 40km west of Dalby and on-completion will generate enough power to supply the equivalent of 400,000 Queensland homes and use less than three percent of the water a conventional coal-fired station would use, or 200ML versus 8000ML each year.
ENDS
Media contact: 3224 4500