BY DAKOTA TAIT
The Kurri Kurri gas plant has been given the final go-ahead by the Federal Environment Minister.
Sussan Ley signed off on the environmental impact statement yesterday.
It means Snowy Hydro can now move forward with securing a construction contract.
A firm date for works to start hasn't been set, but the Government expect the plant to be up and running next year.
Ms Ley says the project isn't just vital for energy reliability and affordability, but the economy as well.
"This project is about two things," Ms Ley said. "It's about jobs in the Hunter, the importance of jobs in the Hunter Region, particularly with the unemployment rate heading down."
"But this is also about the transition to low emissions technology."
Labor announced last week it will support the project, on the condition the power plant starts operation on 30 percent hydrogen, with 100 percent usage by 2030.
But Energy Minister Angus Taylor says it's a backflip, without much behind it.
"Labor has said what they're going to do, without a business plan," Mr Taylor said.
"It's uncosted, although we know the construction cost is going to go up by $600 million."
"But their overall project is uncosted - they haven't explained where the hydrogen is going to come from."
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| Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley gave the project the final green tick. |
