MRET policy 'stills wind farm plans'

Friday, 12 May 2006

Industry stymied: Roaring 40s says unless the MRET is lifted, renewable energy will not be used.

Tasmanian wind energy company wants the Federal Government to urgently review its policy on the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET). Roaring 40s is blaming its decision to stop work on its $300 million Heemskirk wind farm on the Tasmanian west coast, on the Federal Government's decision not to extend the MRET. However, it will go ahead with its Musselroe project in Tasmania's north-east. In 2004, the Government retained the MRET at 2 per cent.

This requires industries and electricity retailers to buy 2 per cent of their energy needs from renewable sources. Roaring 40s had been hoping the MRET would be extended, but managing director Mark Kelleher says time has run out. Mr Kelleher says with the MRET remaining unchanged, there is no incentive for electricity retailers to buy wind energy, making Heemskirk non-viable. "That's it in the end.

Its disappointing that the potential for Tasmania to be a world class icon for renewable energy with its hydro power and three great world class wind farms. none of that can happen for the time being," he said. Australian Greens' Senator Bob Brown believes the Federal Government has no understanding of renewable energy. The Greens' policy requires an MRET of 10 per cent.

Senator Brown says Roaring 40s is being severely disadvantaged, and Tasmania is much the poorer for it. "This extraordinary mismanagement of renewable energy, including wind farms, by the Federal Government is heightened by the Budget we've just seen," he said. "Billions of dollars flowing all over the place but they're cutting the rug right from under both wind power and solar power in this country at a time when global warming is stalking the whole planet." Tasmanian Energy Minister David Llewellyn says the Federal Government is preventing the state from engaging in a full program of wind energy generation.