David Crisafulli says he thinks “the horse has bolted” on Queensland’s plan for enough renewable energy to end its reliance on coal power by 2035.

But the state opposition leader has not detailed how else this might occur along the accepted path to net-zero emissions by 2050.

In one of his most detailed descriptions so far of the LNP’s still-vague energy policy before October’s state election, Crisafulli described the government’s reliance on the $12 billion (or more) Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project – still in early planning – as “pigheaded” and “fanciful”.

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“Their strategy to transition to renewables using that is not credible. Mine is, because it looks at a number of other projects that together can provide that sensible transition,” he told journalists in Brisbane on Tuesday while revealing LNP candidates for Toohey and Maiwar.

Without detailing such projects, Crisafulli said he was “not going to sacrifice Queenslanders at the altar of ideology”. He did, however, note the “opportunity” of the smaller Borumba pumped hydro project, and he floated “voluntary protected private areas” on farms to help reduce emissions.

He accused Labor of a scare campaign about his supposed (but ruled-out for lack of federal bipartisanship) support for nuclear, which is central to federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton’s still-unclear energy plans.

When asked if he supported the shift from coal power in the state by 2035, he said: “I don’t think there’s a Queenslander who would sensibly look at what the government is talking about and say that if there isn’t the ability to transition to alternatives by that time, shutting off coal-fired generators would be a smart thing to do … I think the horse has bolted on that one.”