{"id":458866,"date":"2026-07-29T10:11:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T17:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=458866"},"modified":"2026-07-29T10:16:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T17:16:29","slug":"__trashed-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=458866","title":{"rendered":"Oops \u2013 Another Aussie State Just Forgot to Enforce Prime Minister Albanese\u2019s Green Data Center Mandate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essay by<\/strong> Eric Worrall<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a tough call \u2013 supporting the Federal Government\u2019s renewable energy programme vs having an economic future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Data centres are incompatible with renewable energy targets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Leith van Onselen<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday 27 July 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Northern Territory government is backing plans for a $40 billion data centre industry, with several \u2018hyper-scale\u2019 AI data centre campuses to be built on land around 30 kilometres from Darwin.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

These data centres would be powered by 3 GW of electricity generation, which in turn would be powered by gas from the NT\u2019s Betaloo Basin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan puts the NT government at odds with the federal government, which has drafted rules that would force data centres to power their operations with new renewable energy \u00adsources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue is expected to come to a head at a meeting of energy ministers this week, with the Queensland government publicly opposed to the renewable-only proposal, given a lack of modelling and clarity over how the plan would work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data centres are incompatible with renewable energy targets:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The debate comes as Australia is on the verge of a major boom in data centre investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026Read more: https:\/\/www.macrobusiness.com.au\/2026\/07\/data-centres-are-incompatible-with-renewable-energy-targets\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The rebellion has spread from Queensland to the Northern Territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The economics driving this rebellion are simple \u2013 whoever breaks ranks with the federal green mandate gets to pull hundreds of billions of dollars of dollars of high tech investment, secure well paid jobs for university graduates, a construction industry boom, and a deluge of state tax revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whoever sticks with the Aussie federal government\u2019s plan to try to force data centers to build renewables gets left in the dust.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s a tough call \u2013 supporting the Federal Government\u2019s renewable energy programme vs having an economic future.<\/p>\n

The rebellion has spread from Queensland to the Northern Territory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":458868,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"It's a tough call \u2013 supporting the Federal Government's renewable energy programme vs having an economic future.\n\nThe rebellion has spread from Queensland to the Northern Territory.","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691841712,691835456,691836353,691829138,691819094,691844326],"class_list":["post-458866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-ai-data-centres","tag-australian-prime-minister-anthony-albanese","tag-data-centres","tag-energy-minister-chris-bowen","tag-renewable-green-energy","tag-renewable-energy-target-ret","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1Vn4","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":263343,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=263343","url_meta":{"origin":458866,"position":0},"title":"Australia getting \u2018ripped off\u2019 by Albanese’s renewable energy push","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"06\/22\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Former Deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce says Australia is getting \u201cripped off\u201d by the Albanese government\u2019s renewable projects with solar panels and wind turbines being imported from overseas.","rel":"","context":"In \"Albanese government\"","block_context":{"text":"Albanese government","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=albanese-government"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00Screenshot-2023-06-22-135149.png?fit=982%2C567&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00Screenshot-2023-06-22-135149.png?fit=982%2C567&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00Screenshot-2023-06-22-135149.png?fit=982%2C567&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00Screenshot-2023-06-22-135149.png?fit=982%2C567&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":457261,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=457261","url_meta":{"origin":458866,"position":1},"title":"Aussie Green Energy Plans in Chaos, as the Majority of Capacity Investment Scheme Projects Fail to Progress","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"07\/23\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Even desperate measures like Australia\u2019s attempt to force US AI companies to pay for Aussie Net Zero have fallen flat. What\u2019s happening is hilarious, in a tragic kind of way.","rel":"","context":"In \"AI companies\"","block_context":{"text":"AI companies","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=ai-companies"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0-Aussie-Green-Energy-Plans-in-Chaos-as-the-Majority-of-Capacity-Investment-Scheme-Projects-Fail-to-Progress.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0-Aussie-Green-Energy-Plans-in-Chaos-as-the-Majority-of-Capacity-Investment-Scheme-Projects-Fail-to-Progress.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0-Aussie-Green-Energy-Plans-in-Chaos-as-the-Majority-of-Capacity-Investment-Scheme-Projects-Fail-to-Progress.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0-Aussie-Green-Energy-Plans-in-Chaos-as-the-Majority-of-Capacity-Investment-Scheme-Projects-Fail-to-Progress.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0-Aussie-Green-Energy-Plans-in-Chaos-as-the-Majority-of-Capacity-Investment-Scheme-Projects-Fail-to-Progress.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":447366,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=447366","url_meta":{"origin":458866,"position":2},"title":"Australian renewable investments evaporated in 2025 reaching a ten-year low","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/30\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Australia is supposed to be going hell for leather to install renewables in order to pretend it has a chance of making Labor\u2019s 82% reduction in emissions target by 2030. Instead investors are running away:","rel":"","context":"In \"AI data centres\"","block_context":{"text":"AI data centres","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=ai-data-centres"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0Australian-flag-smoke.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0Australian-flag-smoke.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0Australian-flag-smoke.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0Australian-flag-smoke.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0Australian-flag-smoke.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":283531,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=283531","url_meta":{"origin":458866,"position":3},"title":"After \u201cThe Voice\u201d: Aussie PM Vows to Refocus on Renewable Energy","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"10\/16\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Power prices are rising for using renewable green energy. Welcome to become a blackout nation. From Watts Up With That? Following\u00a0the resounding defeat of a constitutional plebescite to introduce racial segregation into the Aussie constitution, Australia\u2019s Prime Minister has vowed to focus on green energy. Voice to climate Can you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Albanese government\"","block_context":{"text":"Albanese government","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=albanese-government"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-411.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-411.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-411.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-411.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-411.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":463198,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=463198","url_meta":{"origin":458866,"position":4},"title":"Australia\u2019s Green Hydrogen Dream Collapses","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"08\/15\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"$52 million of wasted taxpayer\u2019s money which could have been used to improve hospitals or roads. But green hydrogen was always a non-starter \u2013 take ridiculously expensive renewable energy which already needs subsidies then put it through a process which through conversion losses eliminates half the energy content, effectively doubling\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"$52 million in grants\"","block_context":{"text":"$52 million in grants","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=52-million-in-grants"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0-ChatGPT-Australias-Green-Hydrogen-Dream-Collapses.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0-ChatGPT-Australias-Green-Hydrogen-Dream-Collapses.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0-ChatGPT-Australias-Green-Hydrogen-Dream-Collapses.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0-ChatGPT-Australias-Green-Hydrogen-Dream-Collapses.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0-ChatGPT-Australias-Green-Hydrogen-Dream-Collapses.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":402052,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=402052","url_meta":{"origin":458866,"position":5},"title":"Keir Starmer overrules Ed Miliband to snub net zero project","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"09\/14\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Sir Keir Starmer has overruled Ed Miliband by snubbing plans for a green energy plant in a major blow to the Energy Secretary\u2019s net zero plans.","rel":"","context":"In \"AI data centers\"","block_context":{"text":"AI data centers","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=ai-data-centers"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0AQOJlZFkmZ9IXO085ABPHcPAu5bTTO_mlkbA1wng48kMd2kAUyyl4Lks40vzwvZSygROO9RN2812jevyJ1QJ8iVyMr8Fvhiyiu8cTLxFpOwJk6YdFtS9y7ndAI1Jd1o.jpeg?fit=1200%2C748&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0AQOJlZFkmZ9IXO085ABPHcPAu5bTTO_mlkbA1wng48kMd2kAUyyl4Lks40vzwvZSygROO9RN2812jevyJ1QJ8iVyMr8Fvhiyiu8cTLxFpOwJk6YdFtS9y7ndAI1Jd1o.jpeg?fit=1200%2C748&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0AQOJlZFkmZ9IXO085ABPHcPAu5bTTO_mlkbA1wng48kMd2kAUyyl4Lks40vzwvZSygROO9RN2812jevyJ1QJ8iVyMr8Fvhiyiu8cTLxFpOwJk6YdFtS9y7ndAI1Jd1o.jpeg?fit=1200%2C748&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0AQOJlZFkmZ9IXO085ABPHcPAu5bTTO_mlkbA1wng48kMd2kAUyyl4Lks40vzwvZSygROO9RN2812jevyJ1QJ8iVyMr8Fvhiyiu8cTLxFpOwJk6YdFtS9y7ndAI1Jd1o.jpeg?fit=1200%2C748&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0AQOJlZFkmZ9IXO085ABPHcPAu5bTTO_mlkbA1wng48kMd2kAUyyl4Lks40vzwvZSygROO9RN2812jevyJ1QJ8iVyMr8Fvhiyiu8cTLxFpOwJk6YdFtS9y7ndAI1Jd1o.jpeg?fit=1200%2C748&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0-ChatGPT-Oops-%E2%80%93-Another-Aussie-State-Just-Forgot-to-Enforce-Prime-Minister-Albaneses-Green-Data-Center-Mandate.png?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/458866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=458866"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/458866\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":458874,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/458866\/revisions\/458874"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/458868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=458866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=458866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=458866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}