Toowoomba Chronicle
Wednesday 4/7/2007 Page: 5
Crows Nest chief executive officer David McEvoy said recent changes to Queensland's renewable energy targets will help the Crows Nest wind farm take the next step. Over six months ago, the $270-million Crows Nest wind farm was approved by the Planning and Environment Court.
Mr McEvoy said the owner of the wind farm, Allco Wind Energy, has been negotiating a number of power supplies over the past couple of months. "All approvals are in place except for a Power Purchase Agreement," Mr McEvoy said. "Recently, the Government proposed setting a target for renewable energy of 6% by 2015 and 10% by 2020. "Now it will be much easier for Allco to get a Power Purchase Agreement with an electricity retailer in Queensland.
"The farm will provide 1% of the State total (renewable energy) effect requirement. The State so far only has 2% of renewable energy, so another 1% is a big step." The site, north-west of Crows Nest township, will have 72 turbines worth $2.75 million each and the project total will be $270 million.
"It is a big project and $100 million of that will be spent locally," Mr McEvoy said. "It will also bring workers to the area and another big plus is the considerable tourism. "When other wind farms were built, they created a lot of tourism." The 124-megawatt project will potentially avoid the emission of 265,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually and the electricity will supply the equivalent of 47,000 homes' annual energy requirements.
It is expected the Crows Nest wind farm will create 460 manufacturing and construction jobs and a further 15 full-time maintenance jobs.
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