Redbank closure the tip of the iceberg for power industry: Greens
Posted about 2 hours agoTue 4 Nov 2014, 7:13am Photo: The New South Wales Greens have expressed concern for all workers in coal-fired electricity generation. (Supplied by Algae.Tec) Map: Muswellbrook 2333
The New South Wales Greens have expressed concern for all workers in coal-fired electricity generation after the demise of the Hunter Valley's Redbank power station.
The controversial 151-mega watt plant has been closed by the receiver-managers, with most of the 40 workers retrenched immediately.
Remaining assets at the Singleton power station site including the turbine, generator and plant will now be prepared for sale.
Greens energy spokesman John Kaye said he fears the loss of the Redbank jobs may be the tip of the iceberg.
"New South Wales coal-fired electricity in general has a tough time ahead of it, regardless of climate policy," he said.
"It's going to be out competed by renewable energy.
"The message in the closure of Redbank is that New South Wales should be ahead of the curve, not behind the curve.
"We should be finding new jobs for people in coal-fired power stations before they get forced out of business by the renewable competition."
Dr Kaye said it is the end of a sorry saga for electricity generation in the state.
"The New South Wales Government, both the previous Labor Government and a previous Coalition Government, led private investors along to put their money into Redbank when it was never viable," he said.
"It was simply a way of trying to undermine the unions in the power industry.
"It never worked, it has been a sub-economic power station for all of this time.
"Now we have the problem of people who've worked there without jobs."
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