Talks on wind energy

Goulburn Town & Country
Monday 18/9/2006, Page: 10

THE Australian Wind Energy Association (Auswind) has welcomed the Federal Government's commitment to wind energy, delivered at a wind farm round table in Canberra last week.

The round table was held just before a global windpower event started in Adelaide on September 18.

Auswind CEO Dominique La Fontaine said praised a Victorian Renewable Energy Target and South Australia's commitment to renewable energy as progressive policies. She said the Federal Environment Minister's expression of support for wind energy was also an important step.

Ms La Fontaine said the round table centred on promoting better understanding. "The meeting focused on how the industry can best address concerns surrounding wind farm developments. The meeting was not about interfering with the responsibility of state governments to adjudicate on planning issues' she said.

"The round table recognised that the approach the wind energy industry is already taking is the right one, and agreed that Auswind's Best Practice Guidelines, independent accreditation scheme and its work on landscape assessment would form the basis of a national code. That is a big vote of approval for the industry.

"The meeting also gave community representatives a chance to express their view, while hearing details of the industry's ongoing efforts to ensure world's best practice in landscape assessment and community consultation' Ms La Fontaine said.

"Our industry is constantly working to ensure that it responds to the community's expectations, as global concern about climate change increases the need for emission-free electricity production.

"The international focus is now on Australia, with the Global Windpower 2006 conference to be held this week in Adelaide, bringing the biggest names here from the world's fastest growing energy industry?'