Wind farm approved

Queanbeyan Age
Friday 17/11/2006, Page: 17

WIND FARMS in the local area came one step closer to reality last week with the announcement by the State Government of a major new wind farm at Tarago. The state government used the launch of the wind farm project to announce that it was introducing new targets for renewable energy.

The $220 million wind farm near Tarago will see 63 turbines installed, which the government says will generate enough power for 52,000 homes and eliminate 300,000 tonnes of greenhouse emissions each year.

Announcing the wind farm, Premier Morris lemma also spelt out the government's new renewable energy targets, which sets a minimum 15 per cent usage by 2020 - up from the current level of around six per cent.

Member for Monaro Steve Whan welcomed the undertakings and said that it made it more likely that the Monaro would play host to wind farms. "It means there's more likelihood of them (wind farms) going ahead," he said.

"Like any industrial development, we would assess it on its merits. The best place (for wind farms) is going to be broad-acre rural and you have to say there are areas on the Monaro suitable for it." Mr Whan acknowledged there could be community opposition to the plan, but said the costs of inaction were too great. "Wherever you put them, they're going to be near to someone.

People need to accept global warming is the number one problem we face. The impact of not doing anything is far more damaging than the impact on people's lifestyles (of wind farms)," he said.

Local spokesperson for Friends of Renewable Energy, Rasida Nuridan, welcomed the wind farm and the new targets, saying that most people in the community supported renewable energy. "I think it's a small minority of people who are vocal in opposition," she said.

"There has been poll after poll done on this overseas and in Australia and they all have broadly the same figures of around 75 per cent of people in favour and a tiny minority opposed." She added that she hoped the Tarago wind farm would help to change the minds of locals who were opposed. "We have a really good wind resource and we also have the infrastructure in place, so I would hope so."