NSW government says renewable energy zone in New England could power 3.5m homes

Environment minister Matt Kean says the push to build 8,000 megawatts of wind and solar is part of a plan to replace coal-fired power

The New South Wales government aims to back renewable energy plants in the New England region with the capacity to power 3.5m homes, with the state's environment minister saying enough will be built to replace most of the state's coal-fired power stations earlier than scheduled.

Matt Kean, the minister for energy and the environment, will on Friday announce a second renewable energy zone for the state, following a previously planned designated area in the state's central west.