The organisers of the Cessnock and Maitland School Strike 4 Climate believe the Federal Government is choosing the "wrong path" with its post-COVID gas-fired recovery plan.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced last Tuesday that the government will build a gas power plant at Kurri Kurri if the energy sector does not replace the capacity lost from the closure of Liddell power station, which is scheduled to shut in 2023.
AGL says it is confident the capacity that will be lost from the closure of Liddell power station will be replaced with a mix of energy projects across the country, thereby negating the need to build a gas generator at Kurri Kurri.
But the government has given the industry until April next year to show that it can replace the 1000 megawatts that will be lost when the coal-fired power station closes.
Since last Tuesday's announcements, the number of Australian events for the School Strike 4 Climate Day of Action has increased from 70 to over 300.
"Plans for a gas fired power plant at Kurri will only prolong CO2 emissions, when we should be moving rapidly to emission free renewables," local organiser Campbell Knox said.
"It's important that we work together to achieve real action on climate change.
"We need to stop dirty gas projects from entering the beautiful Hunter area which is celebrated for its biodiversity. We want Scott Morrison to invest COVID-19 recovery funds into jobs that fast-track solutions to the climate crisis, not make it worse."
With public gatherings in NSW capped at 20 people, the Cessnock and Maitland strike organisers have decided to hold their event online.
Anyone who wants to take part can write a sign that says "Fund our future, not gas" and send it to coalfieldsforclimateaction@gmail.com. The photos will go into a compilation that will be released online on Friday.
The students are also hoping to meet with local members Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter) and Meryl Swanson (Paterson) soon.
Mr Fitzgibbon, who addressed last year's climate strike at Turner Park, said he would be keen to meet with the students any time.
"It would be a wonderful opportunity to extend their thinking about the complexities of the energy system," he said.
A spokesperson for Ms Swanson's office said she would be likely to meet with the students between parliamentary sitting weeks in October.
Krystal Sellars
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
