MELBOURNE—Green groups have lambasted the Victorian Government for approving a new brown coal power station that will add to the state's greenhouse load.
The Government signed off on the $750 million Latrobe Valley plant today, two days before a major report steering national policy on renewable energy is due.
The 400 megawatt plant will boost Victoria's power capacity by five per cent.
Energy Minister Peter Batchelor could not say how much greenhouse gas the plant would produce, instead stating it was "clean coal" technology.
But Environment Victoria chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said the plant was an environmental disaster and would emit an extra 2.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gases a year.
She said the Victorian Government, which has pumped $50 million into the project, should instead invest in green alternatives.
"Scientists have repeatedly told us that we need to urgently reduce greenhouse emissions to have any chance of avoiding runaway climate change," she said.
"Yet the State Government is creating a massive rise in greenhouse emissions through this new power station," Ms O'Shanassy said.
Mr Batchelor said the power station, planned to be operational by 2012-13, would take advantage of new technology, creating 30 per cent less emissions and using 50 per cent less water than current plants.
"We're acting now in 2008 to see a power station come on stream in 2013 that will have a 30 per cent reduced greenhouse gas emission; why would anyone be opposed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping the environment?" he said.
Mr Batchelor said Victoria was still on track to meet targets of a 60 per cent cut in emissions by 2050.
Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Louise Morris said the decision was a "very large step in the wrong direction".
"If we're serious about tackling runaway climate change we need a moratorium on all new coal-fired power stations with a plan to phase out existing ones."
The plant will be built near the Loy Yang B station by HRL, under a joint venture with Chinese power giant Harbin Power.
The Federal Government has contributed $100 million to the project.
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