Wind farm study confounds critics, says Vic Govt

abc.net.au
Sunday, 9 July 2006

There are claims today that Victoria's wind farms are saving more than 250,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

The Victorian Government says an independent study conducted for Sustainability Victoria shows the production of electricity from wind results in less burning of fossil fuels. State Energy Minister Theo Theophanus says the report also shows that critics of wind energy, including the Federal National Party MP Peter McGauran, are ill-informed. "In fact it shows that just one two-megawatt wind turbine can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum. It's a lot of CO2 to avoid going into the atmosphere," he said.

Mr Theophanus says the it is time for critics of wind farms to rethink their stance. He says a lot could be achieved if Victoria could reach its target of 1,000 megawatts of wind energy. "We would reduce greenhouse gases by up to 2.6 million tonnes every year," he said.

"That is a phenomenal figure, and really, Mr McGauran should just go back to school and try and learn a little bit more before he opens his mouth on these issues.".