Wind market flat: Labor

Ballarat Courier
Friday 22/9/2006, Page: 6

THE possible scrapping of wind farms worth hundreds of millions dollars is a sign Australia's renewable energy market is being left behind, Labour says. Opposition environment spokesman Anthony Albanese said Australian jobs in the industry were being lost overseas.

But Environment Minister Ian Campbell said Labor was ignoring that the Australian renewable energy sector is exporting technology to the world.

Australian company Pacific Hydro is considering shelving plans for wind farms in western Victoria.

In July, the Roaring 40s wind energy company announced a $300 million deal to provide three wind farms to China.

"Around the same time, Roaring 40s announced they would not be proceeding with wind power projects in Tasmania and South Australia because of a lack of federal government support," Mr Albanese said. He said Australian renewable energy companies were welcomed in China but not in Australia.

Senator Campbell said the examples cited by Mr Albanese were investment decisions not in the Federal Government's control. Mr Albanese should ask the Victorian Labor government why certain wind farm projects were being held up, he said.