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 Renewable energy target delays holding up wind farms 

Renewable energy target delays holding up wind farms

06 Mar, 2009 01:25 AM
CONSTRUCTION of Mt Mercer Wind Farm has been delayed, with the Federal Government yet to set its renewable energy targets.

Proponents West Wind Energy were to begin construction of the 64-turbine wind farm late last year.

But general manager Tobias Geiger said the project had been affected by the uncertainty of what the new renewable energy laws would bring.

Mr Tobias said the company needed to ensure the government's scheme set a target high enough to sustain the renewable energy industry long term.

Mt Mercer Wind Farm was approved by the State Government two years ago.

West Wind Energy selected Enercon as its wind turbine supplier and Powercor as the preferred contractor to build the balance of the plant.

Mr Geiger said the planning report for the company's proposed 64-turbine Lal Lal Wind Farm was still being assessed by the State Government.

He was confident of securing investment, despite the economic climate.

He said if the Federal Government's legislation set high enough energy targets, there was no doubt investment could be raised.

Similar to West Wind Energy, Wind Power is also awaiting news of the Federal Government's targets to determine its next step for Tuki Wind Farm.

Community consultant Ross Richards yesterday said the company was finalising the layout of its planning application for its proposed 282-turbine wind farm at Stockyard Hill.

He said it would then be reviewed by the Department of Planning and Community Development before being put on public view.

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Its been two years to the day since wind power's ill-fated first meeting at Smeaton, which was shut down early after Vaughan Hulme couldn't answer the simplest of questions. It about time the Courier interviewed the people who have stood up to this rubbish and find out the real facts!
Posted by Pete Babcock, 7/03/2009 10:09:53 AM
Wind turbines won't blow away the four broke landholders still trying to get money from dud turbines. Another dud tuki scheme blown up in their face
Posted by Beth, 7/03/2009 10:13:19 AM
Well done to the people opposing this rubbish. Just google landholder contract review to see the rubbish these people have signed up to. Tuki wind farm a lame duck that is slowly dying. Where's Steve Buckle got to anyway
Posted by Macca, 7/03/2009 10:16:12 AM
Geez the courier is really going into alot of depth with their reporting now. Everyone knows that the Mt mercer wind farm will only be built if the lal lal one gets approval, otherwise the distance to the grid is prohibative. The Tuki wind farm has been a flop from go to wo, the nationaly significant volcanic cones in the area are protected by overlays and cannot be built on. How about some truth in reporting in regards to wind farms for once by the courier. The public is suspicious of anything that needs a subsidy to be viable anyway. If the windfarms were all so efficient they wouldnt need a MRET scheme. Its not like they are new technology, you would think after 25 years they would run on their own merits.
Posted by mick, 7/03/2009 10:41:52 AM
Something doesnt add up, wind power are finalising plans for the stockyard hill windfarm, obviously with no concern for the government target, so why are they waiting for the government at tuki? Wind powers own consultant has stated that no turbines should be built on areas covered by SLO, what on earth are they waiting for still??
Posted by peter, 7/03/2009 11:12:08 AM
Looks like wind power pty ltd are history at tuki. With Acciona doing their own scheme to extend waubra, there's no need to pay extra for wind power's lexton wind farm. Bad luck newbold and buckle the gig is up for you carpet baggers ha ha ha
Posted by jonno, 7/03/2009 12:00:51 PM
The wind power consultant Ross Richards promised the smeaton community and the Courier 1. wind speed data, 2. information on turbine details, 3. info on the legal aspects of slo's, etc. Yet to date nothing, this company is a joke and tuki is nothing more than an off trout. There's no facts only fiction with this hair brained scheme
Posted by Jan, 7/03/2009 12:04:13 PM
I thought wind turbine money would be fantastic at tuki - clunes, but when I looked into the contract and the legal liabilities it didn't stack up. ITs just a con, a con on the landholder and a con on the consumer and taxpayer.
Posted by steve, 7/03/2009 12:07:44 PM
Wind power cant even sell the lexton wind farm that they have had approved for about 2 years. Acciona energy want to go it alone with a extension at waubra they announced a week or so ago. If acciona are prepared to do this, why are windpower not at tuki? And this begs the question why would accionia not want to purchase the lexton development so close to waubra ? looks like another wind power flop
Posted by Gazz, 7/03/2009 4:52:41 PM
Isnt it about time that people developing these schemes were made to have some sort of credentials? We have property developers and lawyers who are going to apparantly provide our future energy needs! No wonder they cant get a project off the ground. If the state govt were serious about renewable energy they would make sure those involved were suitably qualified to develop this infrastructure, not just throwing it out to anyone to try. No wonder the community is growing increasingly suspicious of wind farms, what more could be expected when those making the claims have no knowledge of the industry they are trying to become involved in
Posted by sally, 7/03/2009 4:58:53 PM
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