NSW ‘pandering’ to Morrison government by declaring Hunter Valley gas-fired power station essential

State's planning minister says commonwealth proposal has significant economic potential' but energy analysts say focus should stay on renewables

The NSW government has granted critical infrastructure status to a proposed new gas-fired power station in the Hunter Valley in a move energy analysts say is pandering" to the federal government.

The state's planning minister, Rob Stokes, said he made the declaration because the commonwealth proposal to build the power station on the site of a former aluminium smelter in Kurri Kurri had significant economic potential".