Wind farm plans

Albany & Great Southern Weekender
Thursday 22/5/2008 Page: 4

Verve Energy is continuing with its plans for an extension to the Albany Wind Farm after a positive response to its recent community display and question project. More than 170 Albany residents took part in the information sessions at Albany Plaza and Elleker Hall as part of Verve Energy's feasibility study into the proposed six-turbine Grasmere Wind Farm project. This will be adjacent the wind farm at Sand Patch.

Project manager Daniel Thompson said the public display proved a valuable means of informing the community and getting feedback. "We answered a lot of questions and found that most people were aware of the project and supported it," he said. "There were only a few objections, mostly regarding the location of the wind turbines and ongoing recreational access to the area.

"The points raised against the proposal were valid and this was a great opportunity for us to explain our position. " Apart from funding, the Grasmere Wind Farm needs approvals from the City of Albany and EPA before it proceeds. If built, the Grasmere Wind Farm will add almost 14 megawatts to Albany's wind energy and increase to about 80 per cent the annual average 'clean green energy' available to the city.