Large scale Carbon Capture and Storage in the Latrobe Valley will boost jobs and ensure the region’s coal industry in a carbon-contrained economy, the CFMEU says.

The union welcomes the $1 billion CarbonNet project as a vote of confidence for the thousands of workers employed in the Valley’s brown coal industry.

The plans will go towards feasibility studies for capturing three million tonnes of carbon dioxide from power plants and stored safe sites.

CFMEU District President Luke van der Meulen said the state’s energy future relied heavily on the Valley’s massive reserves of cheap energy that could now be utilised with a smaller carbon footprint for the atmosphere.

“Developing this project will help guarantee energy sector industries in the Latrobe Valley remain viable in our new carbon-constrained economy,” Mr van der Meulen said.

“For generations the Latrobe Valley has powered Victoria’s energy needs. We welcome this commitment which will repay the region’s hard work by guaranteeing jobs and skills are retained for the future.”

Read more about CarbonNet in the Latrobe Valley Express.