“In the Ballarat region there are three wind farms totaling 402 turbines, 1368 megawatts, powering 833,000 homes that could be impacted,” Mr Bray said. 

“There are several other projects throughout south west Victoria that could also be threatened if the Victorian scheme was watered down to match the weak federal scheme.”

“Malcolm Turnbull’s obsession with coal is threatening to strangle future wind and solar projects and the millions of dollars in investment they bring to regional Australia.”

Mr Bray said the targets and initiatives put in the place by the Victorian government will keep renewable energy technologies alive in the state but warned them against taking any backwards steps. 

“We definitely call on the Victorian government to stick to their guns of the state target,” he said. 

“Their plans are well developed and we will see significant financial benefits for the Ballarat region in terms of jobs and community finical benefit.”

“It would be a real step backwards for Victoria if the Victorian scheme had to be replaced by the federal scheme.”

Mr Bray said the Australian Wind Alliance were disappointed in the federal government’s new direction and said it’s a big concern for renewable energy technology in Australia. 

“The worst part of the package is it cements and ongoing role for dirty coal power well beyond the point we need,” he said.

“We have so many new possibilities, like wind solar and batteries and pumped hydro but federal government looks like it wants to put the handbrake on these developments.”

“We really should be doing all we can at this stage to bring those new cheap forces of power online.”