Summary: The Environmental Protection Authority has provided advice and recommendations to the Minister for the Environment; Science on Griffin Power Pty Ltd's proposal to construct and operate a 200 megawatt MW coal-fired power station known as the Bluewaters Power Station Phase II adjacent to the proposed Bluewaters Power Station on a site located approximately 4km north-east of Collie.
Release Date: 13 June 2005
Details: The Environmental Protection Authority has provided advice and recommendations to the Minister for the Environment; Science on Griffin Power Pty Ltd's proposal to construct and operate a 200 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station known as the Bluewaters Power Station Phase II adjacent to the proposed Bluewaters Power Station on a site located approximately 4km north-east of Collie.
This proposal is one of three coal-fired power station tenders to Western Power to provide a new 300 MW base load power station. The EPA is also providing advice and recommendations to the Minister for the Environment; Science on the other two proposals today. If coal is chosen as the preferred fuel only one of these three proposals is expected to proceed.
EPA Chairman Dr Wally Cox said that having considered the proponent's commitments and information provided for the EPA's report, the EPA had developed a recommended set of conditions to be imposed if the proposal is approved for implementation.
"The EPA acknowledges that the demand for electricity in Western Australia will continue to grow," Dr Cox said.
"Additional demand should be satisfied through electricity generating facilities which minimise environmental impacts, including the production of greenhouse gases.
"A coal-fired power station without full greenhouse gas offsets and best practicable technology will not deliver the best environmental outcome.
"Combined cycle gas turbine generation represents the best practicable technology for base-load power generation at this time.
"The proposed 200MW coal-fired plant will produce an extra 620,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year compared to a combined cycle gas turbine generation power station of equivalent capacity.
"While the proponent has met the intent of the EPA's requirement to consider the issue of offsets, the level of greenhouse emissions is considerable and the level of offsets is about one sixth of the excess, still leaving about 520,000 tonnes per year of greenhouse gas emissions above a combined cycle gas turbine generation power station of equivalent capacity."
The EPA welcomes and strongly supports recent announcements by Government of a Greenhouse and Energy Taskforce and a strategic air quality management framework for Collie to manage emissions from existing and proposed industries in the region.
"Air quality is an emerging issue in Collie," Dr Cox said.
"Sulphur dioxide levels may begin to approach ambient standards designed to protect human health and the environment as industry, including proposed power stations, around Collie develops.
"The development of a strategic air quality management framework for Collie is an appropriate mechanism for determining the limits required to manage emissions from both existing and proposed new plants in an effective and equitable way."
The EPA's report is subject to appeal until close of business Monday 27 June 2005 and available at www.epa.wa.gov.au.
Appeals are considered by the independent Appeals Convenor (9220 5072). The Convenor prepares a report for the Minister for Environment on any appeals that may be received. The Minister then takes into consideration both the EPA's and the Convenor's report when making her final decision on any proposal.
The EPA is a five person board providing independent overarching environmental advice to the Minister for the Environment; Science through the preparation of environmental protection policies and the assessment of development proposals and management plans, as well as providing public statements about matters of environmental importance.
The EPA is supported by the EPA Service Unit. This Unit sits administratively within the Department of Environment but for EPA matters is under the control of the EPA.
Media contact: Charlie Maling ph 9222 7062 or mobile 0400 866 450.
Status: Final
Appeals close