Future up in the wind

Goulburn Post
Wednesday 25/7/2007 Page: 2

ONE local wind farm has been placed on hold while investigation at another new site begins. The Woodlawn Wind Farm has been placed on hold and its viability will be considered at an ActewAGL board meeting in August. Meanwhile Epuron has commenced investigation into the feasibility of another wind farm at the Gullen Range, south of Crookwell. "Progressing to the construction phase of the Woodlawn Wind Farm project is still being evaluated," ActewAGL chief information officer and general manager commercial development Carsten Larson said.

"Another board meeting will be held in August" ActewAGL General Manager Retail Ivan Slavich said each year ActewAGL fulfilled its obligations under the Federal Government's Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) to supply a fraction of total electricity sold from renewable sources as specified by the Renewable Power Percentage (RPP).

He said the RPP for 2006 (calendar year) was 2.17 per cent. The RPP for future years increases progressively to 2.7pc in 2007, 3.28pc in 2008, 3.9lpc in 2009 before levelling out at 4.58pc in 2010 - 2020. `All electricity retailers' renewable commitments or `quotas' under MRET increase progressively in line with the RPP," Mr Slavich said. "The 2010 RPP represents more than a doubling of the renewable quota' imposed by MRET over 2006 levels" He said ActewAGL customers could elect to pay a small premium through the Greenchoice program to supply renewable power. "The renewable power delivered through the GreenPower program is additional renewable power over and above the quota set under MRET," he said.

He said over the past financial year Greenchoice customer numbers grew by more than 60pc from 5,600 to 9,300. In 2006 ActewAGL sourced over 20 GWh of accredited GreenPower to meet the needs of Greenchoice customers from West Nowra Landfill Gas (25pc) Canundra Wind Farm (73pc) and Eildon Hydro Power Station (2pc). Meanwhile Epuron has commenced investigation into the feasibility of a wind farm at the Gullen Range, south of Crookwell in the NSW Southern Tablelands.

Marubeni Corporation commenced wind investigations at this site, extending from Kialla and Bannister to Guriundah, in 2002, however Epuron acquired the monitoring masts in April 2006. "With careful consideration and planning, Epuron believes the wind farm can be developed with positive benefits to the environment and community," Project Director Simon Davey said. He said Epuron valued the input of the local community, the council and other stakeholders in the planning of this project. The wind farm will be assessed under Part 3A of the Environmental Protection and Assessment Act, making the relevant consent authority the NSW Minister for Planning.