W.A. names new energy minister as it navigates transition beyond coal

The newly re-elected Western Australia state government has a new energy minister – Amber-Jade Sanderson, who will be known as the minister for energy and decarbonisation.

Her appointment was announced by premier Roger Cook on Tuesday as part of a broad reshuffle following the election that saw the Labor government returned with a thumping majority in the lower house, although it may need to negotiate with a Greens cross-bench in the Upper House.

Sanderson replaces Reece Whitby, who moves to the police, road safety and tourism portfolios. Sanderson, the former minister for health and mental health, also has manufacturing, skills and TAFE, and the Pilbara in her portfolio.

Western Australia energy market is fascinating for two reasons. Up north, the huge Pilbara mining province is currently almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels, but has big plans to decarbonise: Fortescue Metals is leading the way with a stated ambition to stop burning fossil fuels at its mines by 2030 through renewables and electrification.

The state’s main grid is the biggest isolated grid in the world, with no connections to other states or countries. It has a high proportion of rooftop solar, and hopes to close down the last of its coal fired power generators by the end of the decade.

It has built and is building a number of new big batteries – including two of the biggest in the country at Collie – to help absorb rooftop solar and provide grid stability in the evening, but its ability to shutter the last of its coal generators will depend on its ability to roll out new wind and solar projects, which it has been slow to do.

“We have a bold vision for the future our State – a future that is made in WA,” Cook said in a statement.

“In these globally uncertain times, my priority is to make the WA economy more resilient and establishing our State as a renewable energy powerhouse, which will drive our commitment to exit coal fired power generation, help our trading partners to decarbonise and ensure secure and affordable energy.”

The main hurdles for W.A.’s main grid is the construction of new transmission lines that can unlock resources in wind and solar rich areas, and reduce congestion on the grid.

The state has also identified potential demand for up to 50 gigawatts of wind and solar to support green industry hungry for low cost and zero emissions power.

However, the state government has been criticised for its focus on offshore gas, its dilution of the powers of the state EPA, and accusations that it is beholden to big fossil fuel companies such as Woodside.

The 48-year-old Sanderson is a former media advisor for one time federal MP and former state premier Carmen Lawrence.

She entered state parliament in 2013 and served as parliamentary secretary to then premier Mack McGowan from 2017 to 2021, and was health minister from late 2021 (replacing Cook), after a brief stint as minister for the environment and climate action.

She was seen as a potential successor to McGowan as premier, but lost out to Cook despite having the backing of unions.