Australia’s Transmission Projects Permitted to Avoid ‘Uncomfortable Scrutiny’: Think Tank

Two of Australia’s major renewable energy transmission projects have been given the green light despite not going through a mandatory scrutiny process, a move that could put $9 billion (US$5.9 billion) of taxpayer money at stake and allow cost blowouts to go under the radar. New South Wales (NSW) grid operator Transgrid is building three massive transmission projects under a simultaneous program. This includes HumeLink, which will connect the new Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme and the renewable energy sources in the South West NSW to Sydney, Wollongong, and Newcastle via the Bannaby substation. Other projects are VNI West, which will connect the grids in NSW and Victoria, and EnergyConnect, which will move energy through South Australia, Victoria, and NSW....