The nation's chief scientist insists his proposed emissions reduction reforms would not block new coal projects, saying those decisions will be up to governments.
A debate over the role of coal under the recommended clean energy target broke out after Alan Finkel's report was released on Friday.
"There is no aspect of allowance or permission here. Permission comes from government. Permission is not decided by the clean energy target at all," Dr Finkel told The Australian on Monday.
He has recommended a clean energy target to mandate a proportion of electricity each year be generated from sources below a set emissions level.
Where that level is set - a task Dr Finkel left up to politicians - could effectively rule out coal generation unless it uses the newest technology.
Energy policy experts say this is an important strategic shift from focusing on pricing or suppressing emissions to the economics of building a cleaner energy grid.
Grattan Institute energy program director Tony Wood says that shift means the market will determine which technology is cheapest.
"If it turns out that a clean coal plant with or without CCS (carbon capture and storage) is actually commercially viable when the emissions intensity is considered, then there will be investors who will build those plants," he told ABC radio.
"It may not be likely, but this will test the commercial viability of the very coal technologies people would like to support."
Australian Energy Council chief executive Matthew Warren said old coal-fired generators didn't have to be forced out because they were leaving faster than they could be replaced.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale was scathing of the plan, which he says will leave Australia still generating power from coal and gas until 2070.
"The problem is that because the climate debate has been so toxic I think there's a sense that any plan is better than nothing," he told ABC radio.
Mr Warren cautioned the only way forward was to have bipartisan support for the final policy position.
"The crossbenchers in the Senate and minor parties can hold views and that's fine, but it's really about both Labor and the coalition getting together and working out what they can do to co-manage reinvestment in this sector," he told ABC radio.
Mr Wood said the clean energy target would set up a framework that could be used to address whatever environmental targets were made in the future.
"If Labor was to be elected at the next election they could take this model, they could crank it up without virtually any changes whatsoever to meet their own targets," he said.
