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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/21/queensland-is-leading-source-of-renewable-energy-jobs-report-says
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Queensland is leading source of renewable energy jobs, report says | Queensland is leading source of renewable energy jobs, report says |
| (21 days later) | |
| Australian Renewable Energy Index says state had almost 6,500 people working in renewables in August, ending NSW’s dominance of sector | Australian Renewable Energy Index says state had almost 6,500 people working in renewables in August, ending NSW’s dominance of sector |
| Joshua Robertson | Joshua Robertson |
| Thu 21 Sep 2017 01.00 BST | Thu 21 Sep 2017 01.00 BST |
| Last modified on Wed 14 Feb 2018 17.41 GMT | |
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| Queensland has emerged for the first time as the nation’s leading source of renewable energy jobs, according to figures suggesting the Palaszczuk government’s policy push away from coal-fired power has gained momentum. | Queensland has emerged for the first time as the nation’s leading source of renewable energy jobs, according to figures suggesting the Palaszczuk government’s policy push away from coal-fired power has gained momentum. |
| The state had almost 6,500 people working in renewables in August, ending New South Wales’ long-standing dominance of employment in the burgeoning sector, the latest Australian Renewable Energy Index shows. | The state had almost 6,500 people working in renewables in August, ending New South Wales’ long-standing dominance of employment in the burgeoning sector, the latest Australian Renewable Energy Index shows. |
| This reflected a boom in large-scale solar- and wind-generation projects under construction in Queensland, which the index found generated 5,203 “job years” alongside 1,287 full-time jobs in solar rooftop installation. | This reflected a boom in large-scale solar- and wind-generation projects under construction in Queensland, which the index found generated 5,203 “job years” alongside 1,287 full-time jobs in solar rooftop installation. |
| The figures come a day after the Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, challenged Malcolm Turnbull to take her lead on delivering “investment certainty” through a clean energy target. | The figures come a day after the Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, challenged Malcolm Turnbull to take her lead on delivering “investment certainty” through a clean energy target. |
| “I can tell you – and Malcolm Turnbull if he’s looking for some advice - the industry has responded to my government’s clear energy policy direction,” Palaszczuk said in a “state of the state” speech in Brisbane, amid speculation of a looming election announcement. | “I can tell you – and Malcolm Turnbull if he’s looking for some advice - the industry has responded to my government’s clear energy policy direction,” Palaszczuk said in a “state of the state” speech in Brisbane, amid speculation of a looming election announcement. |
| On Tuesday Turnbull flagged federal funding for a new coal-fired power station in north Queensland if the Liberal National party won the election. | On Tuesday Turnbull flagged federal funding for a new coal-fired power station in north Queensland if the Liberal National party won the election. |
| Palaszczuk told a Committee of Economic Development Australia function that her government’s target of 50% renewable energy by 2030 had triggered a “$5bn pipeline of private investment” in projects. | Palaszczuk told a Committee of Economic Development Australia function that her government’s target of 50% renewable energy by 2030 had triggered a “$5bn pipeline of private investment” in projects. |
| Seemingly using more conservative employment projections than Green Energy, Palaszczuk said these projects would “support 3,200 jobs”. | Seemingly using more conservative employment projections than Green Energy, Palaszczuk said these projects would “support 3,200 jobs”. |
| They would also generate “5,000MW of clean energy”, which was “more than twice the theoretical capacity of the ageing and much-debated Liddell power station” in NSW, Palaszczuk said. | They would also generate “5,000MW of clean energy”, which was “more than twice the theoretical capacity of the ageing and much-debated Liddell power station” in NSW, Palaszczuk said. |
| The monthly renewable energy index – released for the first time last month by Green Energy Markets with funding by GetUp – found the share of national power generation from renewables across Australia rose again last month to 19.5%, up from 17.2% in 2016-17 and just 7% a decade ago. | The monthly renewable energy index – released for the first time last month by Green Energy Markets with funding by GetUp – found the share of national power generation from renewables across Australia rose again last month to 19.5%, up from 17.2% in 2016-17 and just 7% a decade ago. |
| Solar rooftop systems installed in August alone would save households $180m over the next decade, it found. | Solar rooftop systems installed in August alone would save households $180m over the next decade, it found. |
| Queensland, which already had Australia’s largest number of rooftop solar systems and the bulk of its solar projects, overtook NSW by 1,772 renewables jobs last month, according to the index. | Queensland, which already had Australia’s largest number of rooftop solar systems and the bulk of its solar projects, overtook NSW by 1,772 renewables jobs last month, according to the index. |
| Projects committed to construction in August included Australia’s largest wind farm, the 453MW Cooper’s Gap project near Kingaroy. Another three projects shifted to production. | Projects committed to construction in August included Australia’s largest wind farm, the 453MW Cooper’s Gap project near Kingaroy. Another three projects shifted to production. |
| Palaszcuk said in two-and-a-half years under her government, large-scale solar power had gone from “zero generation to projects with a capacity in excess of 1,000MW”. | Palaszcuk said in two-and-a-half years under her government, large-scale solar power had gone from “zero generation to projects with a capacity in excess of 1,000MW”. |
| Her government was also in talks to attract local production of battery technology that was the sector’s “greatest new frontier”, given the intermittent generation of renewables. | Her government was also in talks to attract local production of battery technology that was the sector’s “greatest new frontier”, given the intermittent generation of renewables. |
| “My vision for Queensland is not simply as a beneficiary of this technology, but as a builder of it,” she said. | “My vision for Queensland is not simply as a beneficiary of this technology, but as a builder of it,” she said. |
| However, Palaszczuk acknowledged Queensland’s reliance on “Australia’s youngest and most efficient fleet of coal-fired generators” for being the only state to avoid predicted power shortfalls. | However, Palaszczuk acknowledged Queensland’s reliance on “Australia’s youngest and most efficient fleet of coal-fired generators” for being the only state to avoid predicted power shortfalls. |
| She also blamed power price rises on other states “failing to develop their gas basins” and privatising their power assets, amid “outdated and unfair” national electricity market rules. | She also blamed power price rises on other states “failing to develop their gas basins” and privatising their power assets, amid “outdated and unfair” national electricity market rules. |
| GetUp Queensland campaigner Ellen Roberts said the state was belatedly realising its clean energy potential, with 38 projects under development and another 40 looking to link to the grid. | GetUp Queensland campaigner Ellen Roberts said the state was belatedly realising its clean energy potential, with 38 projects under development and another 40 looking to link to the grid. |
| These would eventually add 15 gigawatts of capacity, “more than Queensland’s entire fossil fuel power plant capacity” of 12 gigawatts, Roberts said. | These would eventually add 15 gigawatts of capacity, “more than Queensland’s entire fossil fuel power plant capacity” of 12 gigawatts, Roberts said. |
| “With our solar advantage, we should be able to beat NSW on renewables as often as we beat them in the State of Origin,” she said. | “With our solar advantage, we should be able to beat NSW on renewables as often as we beat them in the State of Origin,” she said. |
| “But we’ll need to see more renewable energy action from the Queensland government if we want to hang onto the winners’ shield.” | “But we’ll need to see more renewable energy action from the Queensland government if we want to hang onto the winners’ shield.” |
| Championing clean energy projects to the Naif (Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility), which Turnbull had earmarked for funding a new coal station, “would be a great start”, Roberts said. | Championing clean energy projects to the Naif (Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility), which Turnbull had earmarked for funding a new coal station, “would be a great start”, Roberts said. |
| Queensland | Queensland |
| Solar power | Solar power |
| Renewable energy | Renewable energy |
| Energy | Energy |
| Malcolm Turnbull | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Australian politics | Australian politics |
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