Ann: Operational Update, page-96

New gas supplies ‘needed’ says BRUther Bowen as wind lets rip out his rear end

Energy Minister Chris Bowen believes Australia has no option but to seek new supplies of gas even as the government accelerates rollout of renewables, including green-lighting preliminary work on six potential offshore Gippsland wind projects.
In comments to major energy buyers at a conference in Melbourne on Wednesday, Mr Bowen will declare that gas will play an important role filling the gap left by wind and solar, noting that unlike the opposition’s support for nuclear and coal, the energy source can be turned on and off at short notice.


“With current supplies of gas dwindling, new supply will be needed – even as we electrify at pace,” says Mr Bowen, as he firms Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio.

“Frankly, there are exaggerated claims on all sides of the gas debate,” he will tell the conference organised by the Energy Users Association. “Slogans like ‘gas-led recovery’ and ‘no new gas’ are equally catchy – and equally unhelpful to explaining the proper role of gas in our net zero energy mix.
“Gas will play an important role in electricity by firming and peaking renewables.”
The remarks come ahead of the release in “coming weeks” of Labor’s future gas strategy – a policy plan being developed by Resources Minister Madeleine King – which Mr Bowen will say is about ensuring the use of gas is “guided more by the evidence and less by the culture wars”.