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Media Releases |
Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 3 November, 2009 GLEN INNES WIND FARM GETS GREEN LIGHT The NSW Government has approved a $150 million, 26 turbine wind farm 12 kilometres west of Glen Innes. Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, said the new wind farm had the potential to generate power for more than 25,000 NSW homes and would support 40 construction and 4 ongoing jobs. “The Glen Innes Wind Farm will provide additional generating capacity of up to 78 megawatts per year which will help in meeting the forecast increase in electricity demands,” Ms Keneally said. “As well as helping to secure the State’s electricity supply with green energy, the wind farm also provides an important boost for jobs and investment in the local economy. “The approval is also further proof that NSW is fast becoming one of the most attractive states in which to invest in green energy.” Ms Keneally said the decision to approve the wind farm came after a rigorous assessment that required the original proposal to be amended. “Following community consultation and a rigorous assessment the proponent has been required to remove one turbine from the proposal,” Ms Keneally said. “One of the conditions of approval required the removal of one of the turbines from the original proposal as it was found to have the potential to cause unacceptable visual and noise impacts. “Having removed this turbine, the assessment found that, even with a ‘worst-case scenario’ analysis, no residential property would be subject to unacceptable noise impacts. “Another condition of consent requires the proponent to pay $75,000 per year towards a community enhancement program, in line with the Council’s development control plan for wind farms.” Ms Keneally said approval of the Glen Innes Wind Farm adds to a long list of wind farm approvals over the past 5 years and is another step in securing NSW as Australia’s Green State. “Since 2005, 16 NSW wind farms have received approval, with potential to provide up to 1,021 turbines supplying around 2,813 megawatts of power to the energy grid,” Ms Keneally said. “Once all 1,021 turbines are operational they will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of around 900,000 NSW homes every year. “Providing this power through renewable wind energy reduces the State’s greenhouse gas emissions in the same way as if we took 1.4 million cars off the road.” Ms Keneally said the Glen Innes Wind Farm was the first wind farm approved in the newly created wind precincts. “In August this year the Premier announced a range of measures that are helping NSW become the number one State when it comes to green energy investment,” Ms Keneally said. “These measures include the creation of the six wind precincts, reducing the threshold for considering wind farms critical infrastructure from 250mw to 30mw and waiving critical infrastructure charges until June 2011. “A 2008 Ernst & Young report on renewable energy investment says NSW is one of the leading States in Australia when it comes to supporting renewable energy investment.” Ms Keneally said the report states: “The relatively unexploited nature of the wind resource in NSW, coupled with its large electricity market and available transmission capacity, make the state the next frontier for renewable energy project investment”(1) Ms Keneally said the NSW Government would continue to ensure a streamlined and efficient planning system made it easier and more attractive for renewable energy investment to occur in NSW. IMPORTANT STATEMENT ABOUT POLITICAL DONATIONS New political donation disclosure laws came into effect in 2008 imposing obligations on applicants making applications for project approval to the Minister for Planning from 1 October 2008 to disclose all reportable political donations (if any) made by anyone with a financial interest in the application within the period commencing two years before the application is made and ending when the application is determined. More information on these obligations is available at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/donations The proponent for the project is Glen Innes Wind Power Pty Ltd which is jointly owned by Babcock and Brown Windpower Pty Ltd and NP Power Pty Ltd. The Electoral Funding Authority website shows that no donations have been made by the proponent Glenn Innes Wind Power Pty Ltd or NP Power Pty Ltd, however the website shows that Babcock and Brown have made donations to both the Labor and Liberal parties. Because the application was lodged before 1 October 2008 the Department of Planning assessed the proposal and the Minister for Planning was the consent authority.
(1) 20-20 Vision, Investment challenges and opportunities arising from Australia’s 20% renewable energy target. Ernst & Young Australia 2008.
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