The state’s peak environment group has warned the O’Farrell government must not introduce draconian planning regulations that will block billions of dollars in clean energy investment and fail to reduce carbon emissions from energy generation.
According to the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, new Victorian wind farm guidelines have already caused three wind projects to be abandoned and increased the likelihood of wind energy investment favouring less restrictive states.
“Wind farm planning guidelines similar to those in Victoria would effectively declare our state ‘closed for business’, placing at risk billions of dollars in investment and the creation of regional jobs,” Chief Executive Officer Pepe Clarke said today.
“Wind power is a mature technology capable of providing a proven, cost-effective way of meeting the NSW government’s 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020 target
“According to NSW Trade and Investment, there is up to 2079MW of new wind energy projects approved for NSW and another 5318MW of wind projects currently in the planning pipeline .
“Industry has signalled its strong support for a clean energy future, with 70% of new energy generation projects in wind power. The State government should reject the anti-wind rhetoric and
unlock further economic development and jobs growth with support for large-scale clean energy production.
“The new wind farm guidelines provide Premier O’Farrell and his cabinet with the opportunity for a sensible policy that provides strong community consultation without blocking the growth of clean energy investment,” Mr Clarke said.
