The Palaszczuk government will unlock around 350 jobs and over $ 370 million in renewable energy infrastructure as part of the state’s first major investment in the North Queensland Renewable Energy Zone.

Prime Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk today announced that her government will invest $ 40 million to upgrade transmission lines in far north Queensland, creating 97 jobs for local workers.

The prime minister said this would allow Neoen to move forward with its $ 373 million, 157 megawatt wind farm in Kaban, creating an additional 250 jobs for residents.

“Renewable energies create jobs and put downward pressure on electricity prices,†said the Prime Minister.

“This is why supporting our renewable energy sector is an important part of our economic recovery plan.

“We know projects like this will create jobs and ease cost-of-living pressures for working families.

“Our investment in new transmission line infrastructure today will not only allow Neoen to move forward with its Kaban project – it has the potential to leverage hundreds of millions of dollars in new energy investments. renewables in North Queensland in the future.

To support the Kaban project, Powerlink will modernize an existing transmission line south of Cairns, opening up the Far North Queensland region to new investment.

“Queensland continues to strengthen its position as the country’s renewable energy superpower,†the Prime Minister said.

“With the Kidston Pumped Hydro Storage project, this wind farm will power the North and keep Queensland on track to meet our goal of 50% renewable energy by 2030.”

Energy, Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Minister Mick de Brenni said the Kaban project would be the cornerstone of the North Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) with funding to enable the start of its construction.

“The Morrison government has turned its back on this project – rejecting the 250 jobs it will create for workers,†he said.

“Northern Australian Federal Minister Keith Pitt personally vetoed the NAIF loan in an attempt to block more renewable energy in Queensland.

“The Morrison government is desperately in conflict over renewables, even going so far as to ignore large-scale storage in the region to veto Kaban under the guise of dispatchability.

“Federal Minister Keith Pitt’s veto announcement just doesn’t match.

“Only workers at the national and federal levels offer certainty in energy policy to investors, businesses and workers in Queensland.”

Deputy Tourism Minister and Cairns MP Michael Healy said that by upgrading the transmission line between Cairns and Townsville from 132 kV to 275 kV, the government would soon provide more solar and wind power to the region. ‘Far North as more renewable energy projects come online.

“More infrastructure means more jobs. Projects like this are exactly what we need to rebuild our economy in the years to come, â€said Healy.

“This initiative will not only create jobs and help keep families’ electricity bills reasonable.

“By supporting the Kaban Wind Farm, we will help protect the power supply of the Far North from the harshest cyclonic conditions in Queensland.”

Neoen Australia Managing Director Louis de Sambucy said Neoen would like to sincerely thank the government of Palaszczuk, CleanCo, Powerlink and Vestas for their hard work and unwavering support which has enabled Kaban Green Power Hub to achieve this. important step.

“We are also grateful to those in the wider community who have advocated for the project and the benefits it will bring,†said Mr. de Sambucy.

“We hope Kaban will contribute to Queensland’s energy transition and support the region’s recovery from Covid-19.”