Western Australia Invests $1B to Power 1M Homes With Sun

Western Australia just announced a $1 billion investment that will transform how an entire state gets its power. The Clean Energy Fund will build transmission networks capable of delivering renewable energy to 1 million households as the state closes its last coal plants by 2030.

The timing couldn't be more critical. Western Australia's government-owned coal power stations, including the 340 MW Collie Power Station and 454 MW Muja D Power Station, are scheduled to retire within the next few years. Rather than scrambling at the last minute, the state is building the infrastructure now to make the transition smooth.

Two major grid projects will anchor the transformation. Clean Energy Link East will expand the Southwest Interconnected System to connect new solar and wind farms east of Collie, a coal mining town 200 km south of Perth that's reinventing itself as a renewable energy hub. Clean Energy Link North, already under construction and set to finish in late 2027, will unlock clean power from the state's Mid West region.

Together, these networks will deliver 3 gigawatts of renewable energy to homes and businesses. That's enough to power roughly 1 million households with clean electricity from Western Australia's abundant sun and wind.

Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson emphasized the economic benefits alongside the environmental ones. "Clean Energy Link East is a massive grid expansion for the state, which will deliver enough energy to power around 1 million homes and support industry to access cheaper, cleaner energy," she said.

The construction phase alone will create about 800 local jobs. To speed up delivery, both projects received priority status under the State Development Act 2025, which streamlines approvals and improves coordination across government agencies.

The $1 billion fund builds on $1.6 billion already invested in the network over recent years. State-owned Western Power is leading construction, ensuring public oversight of this critical infrastructure transition.

Regional communities aren't being left behind either. The state budget includes an additional $7 million for Horizon Power to bring renewable energy systems to remote areas including West Kimberley, Coral Bay, and the Pilbara region.

The Ripple Effect

This investment demonstrates how governments can lead energy transitions instead of delaying them. By building transmission infrastructure before coal plants close, Western Australia is proving that renewable energy can scale up reliably. Other regions watching coal plants age can follow this playbook: invest early, create jobs, and avoid the chaos of last-minute scrambles.

The choice to make these priority projects also shows how policy can accelerate progress when the will exists. Streamlined approvals mean workers can break ground faster and communities can benefit sooner.

For Collie, the coal town becoming a renewable hub, the transition offers hope for economic continuity. The same landscape that powered the state with coal for decades will now harness sun and wind, creating a new chapter while preserving local employment.

Western Australia is building the future grid today, one transmission line at a time.