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ABC NEWS (Australia)
  • 3 minutes ago
The South Australian government has been accused of a policy backflip by allowing gas-generated power to help deliver the energy needed for proposed largescale AI data centres. Environmental groups say building new gas power stations would be a backward step for the environment while the government argues the fossil fuel is the best option to supply energy when renewables can't.

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00:02When the government outlined its data centre strategy in June, a big selling point was
00:06the state's bountiful renewable energy supply.
00:09There is a social licence for large-scale renewable development in South Australia.
00:14But five months later, it's now talking up a different energy source.
00:18We support the idea of gas use to firm data centres, the same way we support the idea
00:23of gas firming our renewable energy right now.
00:25Energy Minister Tom Koutsentonis says as AI data centres require large amounts of energy,
00:31gas will be needed to guarantee electricity supply, complementing renewables.
00:36I just think this is outrageous.
00:38It's a total backflip from where the government was just a few months ago.
00:42This week, community backlash led to plans for a 1,200-megawatt data centre at Tunkillo in
00:48the Adelaide Hills to be put on hold, among concerns a proposal for gas to help supply electricity.
00:55Assuming that suddenly this is all about gas is wrong, there is still a huge commitment
01:02to renewable energy.
01:04South Australia has long promoted itself as a renewable energy hub, with the state government
01:09committing to the target of 100 per cent net renewable energy by next year.
01:14It denies that it's done a policy backflip and says that without new gas generation, consumers
01:20would pay more for electricity and have a less reliable system.
01:24This is a potential backdoor avenue for more gas generation and I think the government's
01:29really got to think again.
01:30If you don't let them use gas, they'll use diesel or they'll use coal and they can choose
01:36and they can be responsible for the consequences and not choosing a lower emission option.
01:39a power play over an emerging industry.
01:42a power play over a country.
01:43a power play over a country.
01:44a power play over a country.
01:44a power play over a country.
01:44a power play over a country.
01:45a power play over a country.
01:45a power play over a country.
01:45a power play over a country.
01:45a power play over a country.

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