Million jobs plan comes to life in NSW with government’s new energy superpower plan

The NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap embodies the ambition and action called for in Beyond Zero Emissions’ Million Jobs Plan. This Roadmap will deliver jobs in regional Australia, including in the Hunter region of NSW, and abundant, affordable and reliable, low-emissions electricity across the state.

Chair of Beyond Zero Emissions, Eytan Lenko said, “We commend the NSW Government for this sensible plan to support renewable energy. They are pulling up their sleeves and getting on with the job.

“Included in the plan is an option for a minimum price assurance for generators, and speeding up approvals for transmission infrastructure in Renewable Energy Zones. Both underwriting large-scale renewable energy and fast-tracking new transmission were key asks from the Million Jobs Plan.

“Businesses and residents in NSW can now operate with a sense of certainty that the NSW government is committed to their plan to hit net zero emissions and is laying down the foundations to make it happen,” said Lenko.

More than 9,000 jobs and $32 billion of private investment is expected to roll into NSW regions by 2030 under the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.

Lenko said, “While thousands of direct jobs will be created through the government’s Roadmap, our Million Jobs Plan shows many more downstream jobs are created when Australia’s electricity systems are powered by abundant, affordable renewable energy. This includes 215,000 manufacturing jobs across the nation over the next five years.

Hunter Engagement Lead for Beyond Zero Emissions, Sam Mella added, “Regional communities including the Hunter stand to benefit the most from this Roadmap. The Hunter has long been one of Australia’s great energy heartlands. This Roadmap released by the NSW government helps ensure the Hunter retains their leadership as a global energy exporter.

“We are already seeing manufacturers setting up shop in the Hunter having recognised the enormous economic potential of renewable energy here. For instance, battery manufacturer Energy Renaissance is locating their new gigafactory here, and MGA Thermal is about to announce their Hunter location.

“The potential for the Hunter and all of NSW is limitless, from manufacturing energy-intensive products like renewable hydrogen and green aluminium, to assembling electric trains and buses, and manufacturing equipment used in renewables such as batteries and wind turbines.

“We call on the NSW Government to implement local content requirements that will drive manufacturing jobs in the Hunter and across NSW and put our state on a path to thrive in decades to come.

“We already have so many of the components in place: battery manufacturers, wind turbine manufacturers, steel manufacturers and the skills and knowledge to work with renewable hydrogen. Local content requirements will ensure our state has the expertise and capacity to produce the equipment so vital in the global push to decarbonise,” said Mella.