--- title: Tech billionaire's AGL bid sparks a frenzy description: The media is churning out reams on Mike Cannon-Brookes’ bid to buy Australia’s biggest climate polluter, AGL, and replace its coal fleet with clean energy. --- [![Greenpeace](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png?width=2259&height=348&name=GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png "Greenpeace")](https://www.greenpeace.org.au) [![Canopy Logo](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/hubfs/raw_assets/public/gpap-main-theme/images/the-canopy/the-canopy-logo.png)](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy) The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific. # Tech billionaire's AGL bid sparks a frenzy Tuesday, 22 February 2022 The media continues to churn out reams of copy on tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes’ bid to buy Australia’s biggest climate polluter, AGL, and replace its ageing and increasingly unreliable coal fleet with clean energy. A battle rages over the reportedly large numbers of feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park that are threatening vulnerable native plants and animals. And a new plan could save Tasmania’s swift parrot from going extinct within a decade.    [Inside ‘Project Arise’: Cannon-Brookes’ secret plan to take over AGL](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brisbanetimes.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fcompanies%2Finside-project-arise-cannon-brookes-secret-plan-to-take-over-agl-20220221-p59yer.html&uId=5a778e7a00aa2026a265262c&cId=5a71496272d9dc241933e61d&contextId=6213e17cf71daa1f668860a7&dId=EsC4Z-CRxmgbDs5jhK2LNThyL_U&op=open&sentiment=N&isHosted=false&id=3628643&name=Coal%20(Print%20and%20Online)&type=search&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5icmlzYmFuZXRpbWVzLmNvbS5hdSJ9.Q8Ey-mPNLMwLmFbh44eEcZ0Fhfq1qwkEYqP28x62XOaAoUdJdxVqRmR40OYw1PV5rKtaXnk0t55qzLKAWeN7vA&s=mail-digest) Late last year, as world leaders entered the final stages of negotiations for emissions targets they would make at COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, a small team had formed in Australia plotting what could turn out to be one of the single largest decarbonisation projects the world had yet seen. [The battle for AGL heralds a new dawn for Australian electricity](https://theconversation.com/the-battle-for-agl-heralds-a-new-dawn-for-australian-electricity-177530?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20February%2022%202022%20-%202211121938&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20February%2022%202022%20-%202211121938+CID_7531c42d36d510ef4869bb767cd9fc77&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=The%20battle%20for%20AGL%20heralds%20a%20new%20dawn%20for%20Australian%20electricity) The early closure of Australia’s largest coal power station and Mike Cannon-Brookes’ bid to buy the country’s largest energy company mark a watershed for Australia’s electricity industry. [The battle over Australia's brumbies intensifies in a clash of culture, colonialism and conservation](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-22/kosciuszko-brumby-battle-turns-feral-mountain-culture-war/100830536) Scientists, ecologists and rangers say large numbers of horses in Kosciuszko National Park must be removed quickly to protect vulnerable native plants and animals. Despite clear, consistent and peer-reviewed evidence, a formidable opposition has for years used its political clout to effectively prevent any significant reduction in Kosciuszko's horse numbers. [New plan could save swift parrot from 'imminent danger of extinction', researchers say](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-22/swift-parrot-forestry-extinction-tasmania/100849384) A new plan to save the swift parrot from going extinct within a decade could also ensure Tasmania's state-owned forestry organisation is financially viable, researchers say. [Coal](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/coal), [energy policy](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/energy-policy), [AGL](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/agl), [climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change), [Oil](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/oil) ### Will you share with your friends? [Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tech-billionaires-agl-big-sparks-a-frenzy%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [Share on Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=Check%20out%20this%20thing%20from%20Greenpeace!%20https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tech-billionaires-agl-big-sparks-a-frenzy%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dwhatsapp) [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tech-billionaires-agl-big-sparks-a-frenzy%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tech-billionaires-agl-big-sparks-a-frenzy%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [Go to the website](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/) ## More news ### [Billions in investment on the line unless energy market reforms exclude fossil fuels](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/billions-in-investment-on-the-line-unless-energy-market-reforms-exclude-fossil-fuels) As proposed energy market reforms are debated, a coalition of major renewable investors is warning... ### [RACGP backs duty of care bill for climate change harms](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/racgp-backs-duty-of-care-bill-for-climate-change-harms) RACGP backs duty of care bill for climate change harms. Australia’s largest representative body for... ### [Gas windfall profits tax could raise upwards of $20 billion](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/gas-windfall-profits-tax-could-raise-upwards-of-20-billion) Following allegations of "defeat devices" installed in its diesel vehicles, Toyota has said it... Work like this is only made possible by our supporters. Greenpeace accepts NO government funding or corporate donations to remain impartial. To amplify meaningful climate activism in Australia, ***become a regular giver today.*** [Donate to Support Greenpeace](https://donate.greenpeace.org.au/) [![Greenpeace](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png?width=2259&height=348&name=GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png "Greenpeace")](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/) Connect with us **Call:** [1800 815 151](tel:1800815151) Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders — past, present and future — and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia, the environmental movement and the Greenpeace crew. © Greenpeace 2026. [Privacy Policy.](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/privacy-policy/)