Scrapping the VNI-West transmission line and other projects designed to support renewable energy will result in “massive” increasing electricity bills for Victorians, the state’s former energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio said.
In her first in-depth interview since stepping down as the country’s longest-serving energy minister at the end of July, D’Ambrosio told Renew Economy expensive fossil gas would have to make up as much as 30% of generation capacity – versus about 5% now – in the absence of VNI-West and related renewables.
New gas turbines would take at least five years to acquire – if not more, she said. Similarly, there was little evidence that Victoria would ever find low-cost gas to extract.
“You can’t say you oppose renewables, that you oppose transmission projects that are needed, and that you support backing failing coal generators and more gas-fired generation, and [then] say that you care about people’s energy bills,” D’Ambrosio said.
“All that will do is guarantee a massive increase in people’s electricity bills.”
