news, local-news, Wind power Tasmania, Wind farm Tasmania, WIld Cattle Hill, Westcoast Wind, Granville Harbour

Tasmanian wind power is about to make a big leap forward, and a major West Coast development is likely to be confirmed soon. State-owned Aurora Energy and Goldwind Australia on Tuesday announced they had reached in principle agreement on a 144 megawatt wind farm at Wild Cattle Hill in the Central Highlands. Energy Minister Matthew Groom said: “I hope to have more to say shortly about an exciting proposal for Granville Harbour.” West Coast Mayor Phil Vickers said he was buoyed by that comment. He said he understood Granville proponent Westcoast Wind was still in negotiations with Hydro Tasmania and it would be great for the region if the project went ahead. “Good on the Central Highlands too; they could certainly do with the jobs up there for construction,” Cr Vickers said. The $300 million Wild Cattle Hill wind farm is expected to create more than 150 jobs in construction, and about 10 ongoing jobs. Mr Groom said the project would create enough energy to power more than 60,000 homes, and would increase Tasmania’s wind generation capacity by nearly half. Westcoast Wind’s proposed $270 million Granville Harbour Wind Farm would drive those increases much further. It would be expected to create about 200 jobs in construction and provide 99 megawatts of power, with potential to increase to 112 depending on further approval. At 99 megawatts, it would be expected to provide carbon dioxide emissions abatement equivalent to removing more than 30,000 cars from the road. Westcoast Wind has been in negotiations with Aurora and Hydro. Project partner Royce Smith recently said: “We’re currently gathering investors to take the Westcoast Wind project to the next level.” Mr Groom said the state government’s vision was for Tasmanian to become the nation’s renewable energy battery. He said the Wild Cattle Hill project would be another significant step forward. “This announcement comes just weeks after the Prime Minister and the Premier announced plans to consider additional investment in pumped hydro and other upgrades to boost Tasmania’s renewable energy output,” Mr Groom said. “We have a tremendous opportunity to capitalise on the building momentum for more renewable energy generation and the Hodgman Government is seizing it.” Aurora and Goldwind said the project would help Aurora meet its obligations under national renewable energy laws through the purchase of Tasmanian-generated renewable energy certificates. “We strongly support the development of further renewable energy in Tasmania, and this project will help strengthen Tasmania’s energy security,” Aurora chief executive Rebecca Kardos said. Goldwind managing director John Titchen said construction of 49 wind turbines was planned to start in September 2017. ”We are particularly excited to have reached this stage of the project given our long interest in developing a project of this nature in Tasmania,” he said. Shadow Energy Minister Scott Bacon welcomed the announcement, but said it was the first significant renewable energy project announced since the state Liberals took government (in early 2014). “We've been arguing for the government to be proactive when it comes to renewable energy projects,” Mr Bacon said. “Granville Harbour should have been up and away by now, but Minister Groom's inaction has held it back. “Labor will always welcome new wind projects in Tasmania and Wild Cattle Hill will add a significant amount of additional power into the grid. “We hope the in principle agreement is locked down quickly.” Mr Bacon said Labor wanted at least an additional 500 megawatts of renewable energy generation in Tasmania. “Our Target 500 policy is all about backing in renewable energy projects to create employment and strengthen energy security for the state,” he said.

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