Wind farms shelved

Millions of dollars worth of Mid North wind farm projects are being shelved because the Australian Government is holding off boosting renewable energy targets.
Only one proposal is likely to break ground by the end of the year and that's because it has its own "built-in" consumer, having been optioned by Australian Gas and Light.
Other wind farms have not been so lucky and have suspended construction until Canberra's politicians extend the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target scheme.
The targets, set by the Federal Government, call for energy suppliers to source two percent of their power from renewable sources.
This target has, however, just about been met leaving wind farm companies with no inducement to continue with their projects as they cannot guarantee the sale of their energy.
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An $180 million wind farm at Waterloo which would have produced enough power to supply, for example, the Clare and Gilbert Valleys regional demand about 90 per cent of the time and which would have employed anywhere between 50-100 people during the construction of the 39 wind turbines, has been suspended.
"We would like to revisit the project in the future and have asked the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council for a 12 month planning approval extension," Tasmanian company Roaring 40s public relations and communications manager Josh Bradshaw said.
He said the industry was lobbying the Federal Government for an extension to the MRET scheme to a minimum of five percent.
"We will continue to lobby and a delegation of major wind energy companies travelled to Canberra this month and spoke with the Prime Minister's office to highlight some of the concerns we have.
"And while there were no firm commitments they did acknowledge the investment problems we are facing," Mr Bradshaw said.
A proposal by Wind Prospect for a 170MW wind farm of 85 turbines in the Barunga and Hummocks Ranges, west of Snowtown, which would have supplied the energy needs for more than 132,000 average homes, has also stalled.
"We are currently seeking turbine supply and it depends where the costs come in," Andrew Dixon from Wind Prospect said.
"The market has changed a lot over the last 12 months and we could be in for a long haul – no work on the project will be done at this stage."
Information about the progress of a $200 million wind farm at Barn Hill, near Redhill and Mundoora by the Stanwell Corporation was unavailable at the time of going to press.
Of the four proposed projects in the Mid North, only the one at Hallett appears to be moving forward.
The Regional Council of Goyder held meetings with the principals involved in the scheme this month. Now being constructed through AGL, the Hallett site may become Australia's biggest wind farm.
Initially conceived by Wind Prospect the 94.5 MW wind farm, costing $263 million, will be built on one of the windiest sites in the State and has the added advantage of being near an AGL gas fired power station. Construction is set to begin in September this year and is likely to create 150 jobs while the work is undertaken.Email this article to a friendWould you like to comment on this article?Click here to have your say