NSW Budget funds clean coal developmentWednesday, 17/06/2009More...

NSW Budget funds clean coal development

Wednesday, 17/06/2009

More than $16 million has been set aside to help accelerate the development of clean coal technology in NSW.

It forms part of a $515 million primary industries investment in this year's State Budget.

Of that money, $71 million will be pumped into mining.

Sue-Ern Tan, from the NSW Minerals Council, says clean coal technology will help cut the state's carbon footprint.

"It obviously gets to the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which is critical in the current environment," she says.

"But it also enables NSW to ensure energy security.

"After all, 95 per cent of this state's electricity is powered by coal-fired generation.

"It also protects the state's largest export earn, which is coal at the moment."