THE Gillard government has dumped an election promise to introduce rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants.

Launching a long-awaited energy policy paper, Energy Minister Martin Ferguson said the proposed emissions standards - which Prime Minister Julia Gillard said would mean an end to the building of ''dirty'' coal power plants - had become redundant, given Australia was introducing a carbon price.

The Energy Minister said the proposed emmissions standards had become redundant. Credit:Michele Mossop

The announcement came at the launch of a draft energy white paper that estimates Australia will need $240 billion of investment in energy infrastructure by 2030 and suggested nuclear power could be a ''backstop'' option if other clean-energy technologies do not become viable.

Labor went to the 2010 election proposing regulations that required new power plants to emit less than 0.86 tonnes of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour and be carbon-capture and storage ready - that they could have ''clean coal'' technology attached if it became viable. Mr Ferguson said the commitment was made before a decision to introduce a carbon price.