"The Wagga region is going to be the backbone of the new electricity grid, it is going to be the powerhouse of the nation," Mr Kean said during a visit to the city last week.

"We need to make sure we get the infrastructure built right so that everyone across NSw can benefit from cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy."

Project EnergyConnect, due to start construction late this year, will create a 900-kilometre power line from Wagga to Robertstown in South Australia.

Mr Kean visited Wagga and Snowy Valleys last week to meet with disaffected landowners in the potential path of the 500-kilovolt 'HumeLink' transmission line project between Wagga and the Snowy 2.0 hydroelectric scheme expansion.

"The NSW government needs to modernise out [electricity] grid in the next 15 years; four of our existing coal-fired power stations will come to the end of their lives," Mr Kean said.

"We're planning for our future here, a future that will deliver some of the cheapest and most reliable electricity anywhere on the planet. Part of that future is three renewable energy zones [including one] in the Wagga area.

"Wagga is the third of the renewable energy zones that we will be building at this stage...we have a way to go but the HumeLink project is a critical piece of infrastructure that will bring 2000 megawatts into the grid from Snowy 2.0."

When asked about federal Riverina MP Michael McCormack's statement in February that he was"not worried about what might happen in 30 years' time" in terms of climate policy, Mr Kean said renewable energy was about the "best interests of our economy" as well as the environment.

Mr Kean said nuclear energy, which has the backing of Wagga-based Nationals MLC Wes Fang, was seeing some "really exciting" research but wind, solar, pumped hydro and gas were the cheapest options "right now".

Wagga mayor Greg Conkey said the route of HumeLink's connection to Wagga and the location of its new substation "would be determined by others" but it would deliver a "substantial benefit" to the city.

Cr Conkey said the council was able to brief Mr Kean on a number of projects including council's FOGO green waste system, generating energy from waste at Gregadoo and the potential for hydrogen production at Bomen.

"He was very pleased that the council had set a target of net zero [carbon] emissions by 2040 and the city by 2050," Cr Conkey said.

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