Bell Bay’s normally dormant gas fired power station is being used to counter low summer and autumn rainfall that’s affected Hydro’s capacity to produce electricity.
The station was an important part of handling Tasmania’s power crisis of 2016 when dam levels plummeted and the Basslink cable for power from the mainland failed.
The Premier telling parliament, it’s a necessary backup.
“As much as we would like to control the weather, the low rainfall and make it rain, we can’t, we do have options available because of the investments that we’ve made.”
A lack of actual delivery of renewable energy projects for Tasmania remains Labor’s claim against the state government in what it labels an Energy Crisis.
Businesses cite problems in securing power for large projects, Hydro’s going through a spell of importing power because of dry conditions.
Labor Member for Bass Janie Finlay telling parliament, Bell Bay’s old power station being brought back online could have been avoided.
“We have the gas fired power station being used at the moment, we are importing energy, wouldn’t it have been great if this government had the capacity to deliver renewable energy projects so we didn’t need to rely on it.”
