The Chair of the NSW Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Jonathan O’Dea MP has welcomed the potential sale of the NSW Government’s renewable energy assets.
Mr O’Dea commented on the launch by NSW Treasurer, Mike Baird, of a formal transaction process for the sale of Green State Power’s renewable assets to unlock funds for critical infrastructure.
The assets include the Hume, Burrinjuck and Keepit hydro generators, the Blayney wind farm and Green State Power’s interest in the Crookwell wind farm as well as 1,634 hectares of Mallee trees to be registered with the Clean energy Regulator for carbon storage.
Mr O’Dea said the sale of the renewable energy assets is in keeping with a recommendation of the NSW PAC in its extensive inquiry into the Economics of Power Generation.
“The Committee specifically recommended That the NSW Government expedite the sale of remaining electricity generation assets.
“Other recommendations discouraged the NSW Government from commercially supporting any particular types of energy generation and encouraged openness to a diverse range of potential energy sources, including gas and nuclear options.”
“I welcome the NSW Government’s sale of the renewable energy assets as a means of further retreating from its involvement as a generator of electricity.
“The NSW Government should not be an owner in the energy generation sector. To do so distorts the effective and efficient operation of the market and is in potential conflict with its important regulatory role,” Mr O’Dea said.
