The state government has approved plans for two large new power stations, triggering concerns about a further increase in greenhouse gas emissions, especially if coal is used as the fuel.

The approvals are for ”concept plans” for two, 2000- megawatt power stations at Mount Piper, near Lithgow, and Bayswater, which is near Muswellbrook in the Hunter.

Final plans for the power station design, including fuel source, will need separate approval before construction can begin.

THE cost of installing rooftop solar panels could be dramatically lowered by abolishing rebates and paying households a premium for all electricity generated at home, an economic analysis has found.

The analysis by consultants Access Economics, on behalf of the Electrical Trades Union, found a national gross feed-in-tariff would be a far cheaper way to boost uptake of rooftop solar panels than existing policies.

The union’s Victorian secretary Dean Mighell said twice as many solar units would have been installed if the $1 billion spent on rebates was funnelled into a premium subsidy.

THE Rudd Government’s bungled home insulation program is costing it crucial support among NSW voters, who are turning to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

An exclusive Sun-Herald/Taverner poll shows Labor is now level-pegging with the Coalition.

On a two-party preferred basis, both sides have 50 per cent of the vote – a drop of almost 3 percentage points on Labor’s election-winning 52.7 per cent in 2007.

The results come after a horrific run for the government in which it failed to shake off Coalition criticism and growing community concern about the safety of its home insulation scheme.

The poll of 609 NSW voters, conducted on Wednesday and Thursday nights, shows Mr Abbott has succeeded where his predecessors failed.

Mr Abbott has shored up his own voter base while convincing swinging, and some Labor, voters to listen to his message.

But Prime Minister Kevin Rudd remains the preferred choice for prime minister – 53 per cent say he is the better man for the top job while 40 per cent favour Mr Abbott.

It is a drop in popularity for Mr Rudd. At his best former opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull could convince only 22 per cent of people that he would be the better PM, according to Newspoll.

Pollster Philip Mitchell-Taverner said people were surveyed during an ”atypical” period when several issues were rattling Labor.

The ALP was also having to cope with a ”tenacious” Mr Abbott, Mr Mitchell-Taverner said.

”Malcolm Turnbull never had such an opportunity as the Rudd halo stayed so strong for so long and Mr Turnbull was never able to generate any viable negative emotions about the government,” Mr Mitchell-Taverner said.

”Times dramatically changed in such a short time and the swinging voters noticed. Mr Abbott must consider himself to be very lucky, coming into leadership when he did.”