Victoria
Queensland secures fossil fuel exemption for new data centres
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has welcomed an agreement exempting the state from using renewable energy to power new data centres.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has welcomed a new agreement that exempts the state from requirements to power upcoming data centres exclusively with renewable energy. The carve-out will allow new facilities in Queensland to utilise power generated from coal and gas.
According to reporting by a wire service, the Premier hailed the decision as a significant development for the state. The agreement ensures that developers of energy-intensive data infrastructure in Queensland will not face the same mandatory renewable power obligations that may apply in other jurisdictions.
While the Premier has publicly celebrated the arrangement, several details of the agreement remain unconfirmed. It is not yet clear which specific parties negotiated the carve-out, nor has a detailed timeline been established for how long the exemption will remain in place. Additionally, the exact regulatory mechanisms that will govern the use of fossil fuels for these new facilities have not been disclosed.
Data centres require substantial amounts of electricity to operate, making their power sources a key point of discussion for state and federal energy grids. The exemption represents a distinct policy direction for Queensland, prioritising energy security and investment attraction through established fossil fuel resources.
Critics and environmental advocates have yet to release formal responses to the announcement, and it remains to be seen how federal authorities will view the carve-out in the context of national emissions reduction targets.
We will watch to see how the federal government and environmental groups respond to Queensland securing this fossil fuel exemption for its technology sector.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
Dedicated to a Stronger Victoria.
A message from the editor, August
Every story here is free to read. Only readers keep it that way.
We take no government money, run no paywall, and answer to nobody in Spring Street. That independence is paid for by a small number of readers, not the many who benefit from it. If just one in a hundred of today's readers gave $8 a month, our Victorian politics coverage would be funded for the year.
- Funds reporting, not shareholders
- Cancel in one click, anytime
- Supporter badge and reply access
Prefer a one-off? Send a tip. It takes about twenty seconds.