PERTH, Monday 9 March 2026 —  In response to reports that the West Australian government is preparing to build new gas-fired power stations in WA, the following lines can be attributed to Geoff Bice, WA Lead at Greenpeace Australia Pacific:

“Adding new gas-fired power stations is a bizarre and backwards suggestion – there is no need for more fossil fuels in the WA energy system. WA desperately needs to reduce its emissions, so it makes no sense to undermine the good work of shutting down one fossil fuel source just to open up another. Recent modelling by Greenpeace clearly demonstrates that WA does not need more gas, and entrenching it is a risk to our economic development as a renewable energy powerhouse.

“Adding new gas is simply too risky for WA. Becoming more gas reliant only exposes WA households and businesses to the price volatility we are currently seeing in global oil and gas markets due to the war in the Middle East. Given the global backlog in production of gas-fired generators, access to a new facility could be years away, well after coal has already exited the system.

“New gas is not the solution for WA when we have such an abundance of infinite, cheap renewable energy and an ambitious battery investment plan. Gas is a costly and risky option for WA taxpayers that would lock in pollution for decades to come. 

“The Minister must keep her courage in the face of gas industry lobbying. The build-out of batteries and renewable energy has been gathering pace, and WA cannot afford to take a backward step at this crucial stage.”

-ENDS-

New gas plans for WA ‘bizarre and backwards’