Goulburn Post
Wednesday 22/11/2006 Page: 5
By LEON OBERG
THE NSW Government's commitment to a Renewable Energy Target of 10 per, cent power generation from green sources by 2010, increasing to 15pc by 2020, has been branded "a positive step" by Veolia Environmental Service (formerly Collex).
The company, which earlier this year put its approved Woodlawn Windfarm on hold on economic grounds, believed the move might turn the tide for wind power. "This target creates a market for green electricity produced from renewable sources such as wind and solar in NSW," Veolia Environmental Service's marketing manager Tony Cade told the Goulburn Post.
The target also means that electricity retailers must purchase green electricity, which puts wind and solar on the same playing field as traditional sources of power generation, such as coal and gas. "This commitment ensures the renewable energy industry continues investing in NSW and projects already in the pipeline can be built, such as the Woodlawn Windfarm." However, Mr Cade warned that this would only occur once the target came into effect after the NSW State election next March 2007.
Mr Cade also revealed that generation units were presently being installed at the Woodlawn Ecoprecinct for the conversion of methane captured within the bioreactor. "We expect to be commissioning the generation units in January or February, and for them to he fully online generating green electricity by April," Mr Cade said. "We have entered a very exciting stage in the development of the Woodlawn Eco-precinct and the capacity to produce 'green' electricity further expands the facilities' sustainability credentials," Mr Cade said.
His comments follow the release last week that planning approval for a new $220 million windfarm between Tarago and Bungendore had been secured. The proposed 63-turbine Capital Wind Farm was rated to generate enough electricity to provide power for 52,000 homes, eliminating 300,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year.
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