Greenpeace Australia Pacific is urging AGL to shut down its two remaining power stations following Liddell’s closure.
According to Greenpeace Australia Pacific, the final closure of AGL’s Liddell coal-burning power station, which begins today and concludes on 28 April, is a climate victory and a critical turning point in Australia’s transition to clean, renewable energy.
The organisation added that AGL would replace the 50-year-old Liddell Power Station with large amounts of wind and solar energy and big batteries.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Head of Advocacy and Strategy Glenn Walker congratulated AGL on shutting down the Liddell Power Station.
Walker is also urging the company to close its two remaining power stations by 2030, arguing that the sooner they are closed, the better for the environment and the health of local communities.
“With recent leadership changes at AGL, the company can and should be a renewable energy leader. By future-proofing the grid with renewable energy, AGL can be an industry leader for Australia’s rapid transition away from dirty coal and gas to clean energy,” he added.
According to Walker, companies and politicians must demonstrate courage and invest in renewable energy to move away from coal and gas.
The Loy Yang A power station was initially scheduled to close in 2048; however, it has now been pushed back to 2035. Meanwhile, Bayswater was scheduled to close in 2035 but will now close as soon as 2030.
Greenpeace believes that both of these remaining power plants must close by 2030 to comply with the Paris Agreement and keep hazardous global warming below 1.5 degrees.
