Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed up to $600 million (US$470 million) will be invested in ensuring the completion of a 660 MW open cycle gas-fired power station in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales (NSW). However, Climate activists groups, such as the Climate Council, have called for Australia to cut off funding towards carbon-dioxide-emitting forms of power generation, and transition to solely renewable energy sources. The project will be overseen by the Australian-government-funded Snowy Hydro, and is part of the government’s targeted plan to utilise gas in Australia’s transition to a lowered emissions future. In 2020, close to 50 percent of energy generation in Australia’s National Energy Market came from coal-fired power stations. According to a report by CSIRO (pdf), compared with coal, domestic gas power generation using open cycle gas turbines can reduce emissions by an estimated 31 percent. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the key was …