This has long been the coal country of Australia. However, the region, which is three hours away by car from Sydney, is now reluctantly leading the nation’s clean energy revolution.
It will be a significant change because “this town was built around a coal mine,” says Hugh Collins of Muswellbrook. I have no idea what will occur.
The soon-to-be-demolished smokestacks of the nearby Liddell power station, which rise above the undulating hillside, are the perfect example of this conundrum. Two years ago, Liddell, one of the oldest coal facilities in Australia, was shut down. Bayswater, a sibling power facility across the highway, is expected to retire in 2033.
In keeping with the Labor government’s wind energy aspirations, Liddell’s owners intend to transform both plants into a hub for renewable energy.
