Plan for 500-unit farm

Ballarat Courier
Tuesday 9/10/2007 Page: 10

A WESTERN NSW wind farm dubbed the largest in Australia could be up and running by the end of 2009, the company behind it says. Renewable energy group Epuron Pty Ltd announced its proposal yesterday to install about 500 wind turbines north-west of Broken Hill, in far western NSW, saying they could generate enough electricity for 400,000 homes. Epuron Pty Ltd executive director Andrew Durran said if the NSW government approved the wind farm near Silverton, the project could be operational in stages by late 2009. The company will submit a development application for the farm in March next year, with approval expected by the end of the year. Construction would begin early in 2009.

The $2 billion project could produce up to 4.5 per cent of NSW annual energy needs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by three million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, the company said. "Silverton Wind Farm will be one of the largest in the world once it's operating, with the potential for almost 1000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity," Mr Durran said. "NSW is an excellent state for wind farms. It has an excellent wind resource, it has a very strong transmission system, and it has got the largest energy load, so from our perspective NSW has a great potential for wind technology." Mr Durran said he had also spoken to the communities of Silverton and Broken Hill, with most people showing support for the project.

The operation and maintenance of the facility would create 100 permanent jobs in the area, he said. Meanwhile, four landholders had already agreed to host the wind turbines. The townspeople in the area recognise the jobs and economic benefits from this project," he said. They also recognise that to date their towns have relied on mining as a income source. This provides a new income source for the region." However, Mr Durran said the differences between the federal and NSW clean energy targets were a concern, as they created confusion and delays for renewable energy providers.