Why are the Victorian and Federal Governments using taxpayers’ money to fund another polluting coal power station?
Australian privately owned company HRL, in partnership with Chinese owned Harbin Power Enterprises, has announced its intentions to build a new 400MW coal power station near the Loy Yang B power station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley. If allowed to go ahead this new coal station will add 2.4-2.7 million tonnes of greenhouse polluting emissions to Australia’s atmosphere annually. The former Howard Government and Victorian State ALP government promised $150 million dollars in taxpayers funded grants to support this new coal-fire power station. The Rudd Federal Government has shown no sign of withdrawing this money promised by the Liberal Federal Government. Friends of the Earth strongly oppose this project, and the building of any new coal fire power stations, as it will lead to an increase in emissions. Australia needs a moratorium on all new coal fire power stations and a rapid and just transition to a renewable energy future.
