The NSW energy minister has accused the federal government of being out of touch on energy and climate policy and says it's time for a change of course.

In an opinion piece in the Australian Financial Review, NSW Energy Minister Don Harwin says the market and industry is looking for certainty on emissions, and policy uncertainty will lead to higher wholesale prices and delayed investment.

"The federal government is out of touch on energy and climate policy, which is preventing new investment and prices from falling," Mr Harwin told the newspaper.

"It's time for them to change course."

He wrote in Wednesday's opinion piece that NSW wanted a "sensible emissions policy" to be embedded in the national electricity law.

"We need to end the 'climate wars' and put science, economics and engineering ahead of ideology," he wrote.

NSW would move at the Council of Australian Governments meeting that the Energy Security Board give ministers policy options on how to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Mr Harwin said.