Wind farms cut emissions

The Canberra Times, Page: 6
Monday, 10 July 2006

Victoria's wind farms are saving more than 250,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year, a new report shows. The report, issued yesterday, found wind power was the best technology available to cut greenhouse gas emissions generated by electricity. Victorian Environment Minister John Thwaites said Victorian wind farms generated enough energy to power 90,000 homes for a year. They saved more than 250,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions - the equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the state's roads.

"The research shows that the production of electricity from wind results in less burning of fossil fuels," Mr Thwaites said. "Each megawatt hour of wind energy generated in Victoria currently avoids producing, on average, one tonne of greenhouse emissions. "A typical 2 megawatt wind turbine in Victoria will reduce greenhouse emissions by about 6000 tonnes per year. "The independent study was carried out by McLennan Magasanik Associates for Sustainability Victoria.

The Victorian Government aims to produce 1000 megawatts of wind power by 2010, boosting the proportion of energy derived from renewable sources by 10 per cent. Energy, Industries and Resources Minister Theo Theophanous said the report supported this target. "This new report shows the huge greenhouse gas savings we can achieve as our wind energy industry grows in Victoria," Mr Theophanous said.