“Get on with it”: Energy delegation pushes for ramp-up CopperString

Published on 02 June 2026

Galvanised by critical lessons from the American energy sector, a powerful coalition of regional mayors, industry pioneers, and a visiting delegation from West Texas have united in Townsville to urge the state and federal governments to strip away bureaucratic red tape and accelerate the construction of the CopperString transmission line.

Supported by the Flinders Shire Council, the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD), and the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ), the group from Texas highlighted a stark infrastructure timeline disparity.

While West Texas planned, permitted, and constructed 6,500 kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines in just 14 years, Queensland has spent nearly two decades on the cusp of delivering a single 900km line. The Queensland Government has breathed new life into CopperString, however the clock is ticking to see real progress.

Local leaders argue that regional communities cannot afford to wait any longer, framing both CopperString and new renewable projects as matters of economic survival. For rural local governments with small rate bases, renewable energy infrastructure represents a fundamental lifeline.

Flinders Shire Mayor Kate Peddle emphasised that the local community views renewable energy through the lens of economic opportunity rather than climate targets or political debate.

“I think the conversation around renewables can become quite politicised and toxic in our country,” Mayor Peddle said.

“We have incredible natural energy resources. The conversation for us in terms of renewables isn't so much about ideology or climate change targets. It's more so about the economic opportunity and survival of our region.

“We are definitely in survival mode. Our rate base only represents 15 per cent of our total revenue. So we are so dependent on having our hand out for state support in terms of grant and infrastructure (funding).”

Mayor Peddle said that while Flinders Shire was ready to serve as the region's main energy generator, local wind farms were unable to maximise their benefits until transmission was secure.

“None of the new projects in Flinders or the North West Minerals Province will go ahead without CopperString,” she said.

The three-man delegation brought direct expertise from West Texas – a region geographically similar to North West Queensland, but 25 years ahead in its energy transition.

Rod Wetsel, an attorney and law professor from Sweetwater, Texas, shared how their community scaled from zero wind turbines to over 2,000 in a matter of years, creating massive wealth for local communities without threatening traditional agricultural industries.

“The out-west areas where we live, the rural community is very welcoming and that they can continue their same way of life,” Mr Wetsel explained.

“They can still ranch, farm, have recreation, and also have the wind and solar, which by the way, doesn't take the place of any other form of energy. It's just a supplemental source of energy that helps everybody's lifestyle in the end.

“Everybody else gets the benefit of a better standard of living.

“You have better restaurants, better hotels, better housing, better income-paying jobs. The number one of the top 10 jobs in United States now is a wind technician.

“It doesn't require a college degree... and it's a very good paying job.”

Mr Wetsel's message to Australian policymakers was blunt: “Just get on with it. The main reason being it's good for everybody... Let's get above the politics.”

Echoing the push for immediate progress, Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto called for an immediate 50-50 funding commitment from the Federal Government to construct CopperString for what he described as vital nation-building infrastructure.

He stressed that renewables must be built where they are genuinely wanted, serving as a secondary income for local primary producers.

“What is good for (the North West) has always been good for our whole region and making sure that CopperString goes ahead is one of my top priorities,” Mayor Dametto said.

“Let's put these wind farms, let's put these solar farms, out where people want them, where they're welcome.

“In that marginal country where grazers can have a secondary income stream for their properties while they're in drought, knowing that they have an opportunity to continue to farm and foster that land with an income stream that keeps their bottom line afloat.

“The thing I learnt the most (from speaking with the Texans) is that government needs to get out of its own way and just build this thing.”

CopperString founder and VisIR CEO Joseph O'Brien drew a sobering historical comparison between the two jurisdictions, highlighting the 20-year window of opportunity Australia has left completely untapped.

"In about 2007 we started developing CopperString and Texas started developing their competitive renewable energy zone transmission lines," Mr O'Brien stated.

"In 14 years, they went from concept to having constructed 6,500 kilometres of high-voltage transmission line to the west of their state.

“18 years later, we are on the cusp of seeing CopperString delivered. It's 900 kilometres, not 6,500.”

Maria James, CEO of MITEZ, said the communities between Townsville and Mount Isa would be the big winners once CopperString was completed.

"To me it's about the entire corridor... we need that transmission line from Mount Isa to Townsville as promised," Ms James insisted.

"The single biggest cost in any mining and manufacturing is energy. So, we talk about sovereign manufacturing... we talk about producing fertiliser. Energy is the biggest cost. What our friends from Texas have shown us is that you can see it, you can be it.

“They've proven it. It works. We need to launch this and we need to launch this now.

Another thing I've learned is... it's not about renewables taking over. It's not about them pushing out the (existing) industry. It's about adding to industry.

“You're diversifying your economic stream by looking at renewables. We are the mining capital of Queensland, we have it all, and we need to act now. We can't squander this opportunity."

Claudia Brumme-Smith, CEO of Townsville Enterprise, concluded by laying bare the sheer quantum of regional economic potential currently frozen on the sidelines, waiting for reliable power transmission to be switched on.

"I think what we learned from Texas is that getting on with business is really important," she said.

"We know that energy costs are the highest ever in our region and for our industry that is really something that they are struggling with.

“CopperString is the missing link that we need. We really do need to have long-term certainty around power... power is the biggest enabler for our region."

The Texas delegation is now heading to Brisbane to engage with government leaders and departments before appearing at the LGAQ Resources Conference in Mackay next week.