The Victorian Government's perceived lack of support for wind farms has frustrated farmers who hope wind turbines will provide them with a reliable alternative source of income.

Farmer Geoff Wells will eventually have 10 wind turbines installed on his property. (ABC Local:Lily Partland)

Geoff Wells has been farming southwest of Ballan for more than three decades and knows his part of the world pretty well.

So when a neighbour approached him about the possibility of adding wind farming to his cattle, sheep, prime lamb and cropping operation, he was immediately interested.

"We know from experience that we get very few calm days, so we knew we had a good resource and the testing has backed that up," he said.

Farming has proved to be a risky business for Geoff, with drought and shifting commodity prices dramatically affecting his annual income.

So the appeal of a reliable alternative source of income that would contribute to his retirement when his son takes over the farm was obvious.

About 10 years ago, Geoff and his neighbours approached West Wind Energy and planning for the Moorabool wind farm began about seven years ago.

A planning permit was issued for the wind farm in 2011, but since then the project - which will see turbines installed on 16 properties - has stalled.

Geoff - a self-described conservative - hasn't been impressed by the Coalition state government's level of support for the wind energy industry.

"It frustrates me that they seem to think that coal is the way to go when we've got good wind energy resources, and solar as well. They should be at least looking at these renewables."

A key contributor to the slowing of the wind energy industry in recent years has been the uncertainty around the federal Renewable Energy Target, which has put off potential investors.

But Geoff thinks the state government also has an important role to play if the wind industry is to flourish in Victoria.

"I think they've got to put pressure on the federal government to sort the RET out and make a definitive decision."

He says political support for wind energy will influence his vote in the upcoming state election.

"Because we need a government that will make a definitive stand on renewables and get these projects underway."

Geoff now expects it will be another five to 10 years before he has 10 operating turbines on his property.

West Wind Energy managing director Toby Geiger says Geoff Wells is not the only farmer frustrated by the delays.

"Many of them have realised it's not something that's going to happen in a hurry and so there's a level of frustration there and we share that with them."

He says that since the German-owned company opened its Victorian branch a decade ago, the wind energy market - which had shown a lot of promise - has changed considerably.

"Put it this way: in 2009 we had 12 fulltime staff, today we're just over 4 fulltime staff."

Mr Geiger says while the global financial crisis and uncertainty around the RET have caused problems for the industry, the state government's adjustment of wind farm regulations has stopped his company from developing any new projects.

In 2011, the Victorian Government followed through with an election promise to amend planning regulations.

It banned the construction of wind farms within a two kilometre radius of homes without the written consent of the owner.

"You cannot design an efficient project at the moment because of the settlement in Victoria," Mr Geiger said.

"Essentially, every neighbour within two kilometres can either hold their hand out for money or they can say no."

He says wind energy still has a future in Victoria but needs more support from the next state government.

He'd like to see the reintroduction of a Victorian renewable energy target, which he says merged with the federal target when it was enhanced.

And he'd like to see the planning laws adjusted so setbacks are determined based on scientific evidence and calculations, rather than an arbitrary figure.

He says South Australia is a good example of what can be achieved with a supportive state government, but it's about facilitation rather than financial investment.

"The South Australian Government was working with the proponents to get things done. We haven't seen that in Victoria."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Minister for Energy and Resources Russell Northe said, "The Victorian Coalition Government supports the retention of the Commonwealth Renewable Energy Target.

"We introduced the two-kilometre setback rule to give the industry and communities certainty in planning - wind farm development requires community support."

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews has pledged to reduce the exclusion zone around dwellings from two kilometres to one kilometre.

He says a Labor Government would reintroduce a state-based emissions reduction target and set up a $20 million fund to encourage investment in renewables.