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The federal government will spend the next few weeks talking to energy storage companies before revealing what it will do to help build more big batteries around the country.
Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic went to the coal-heavy Hunter Valley on Friday — a region poised to undergo a dramatic industrial shift on the path to net zero emissions by 2050.
"This'll be a tight consultation of about four weeks," he said.
"We don't have a moment to lose because we've wasted so many of these moments over the past few years, not recognising that a lot of this activity will create great jobs.
"Especially in our regions that are hungry to get involved."
Mr Husic visited Energy Renaissance, a battery manufacturing company in Tomago, which makes large lithium-ion batteries, that can store energy and release it on demand.
"This is good solid work for blue collar workers that are involved in manufacturing," he said.
Renewable jobs touted
Ideas for renewable energy projects to be built in coal regions, like the NSW Hunter Valley, have been touted by the federal and state governments as discussions of transition intensify.
While some mine sites in the region are expanding, others are considering earlier closure dates — in response to state government policies and market pressures.
Three coal-fired power stations have firmed up closure dates, with the AGL Liddell power station set to be the first to power down, slated to shut in April.
Origin Energy, the owner of the Eraring coal-fired power station — the largest in Australia — shared plans to build a battery on the site after it closes in 2025.
"We've got many, many years until the coal industry has some issues," said federal member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi, a former coal miner whose electorate covers the Hunter Valley coalfields.
"We have the best rail network in the world, with the best port in the world, exporting the best coal in the world."
However, he said, there was a need for everyone to work together.
"And … make sure [we] "move to where we know we want to go," Mr Repacholi said.
"And make sure that we're getting those manufacturing jobs up into the Hunter, up into areas like Tomago, into the whole of this region."