Wind energy companies are moving to get their projects off the ground in time for the last of the renewable energy credits, Moyne Shire chief executive officer Graham Shiell told Warrnambool newspaper, The Standard.

“If you ask the wind generating industry they’re saying there’s only a few hundred megawatts to develop left before the renewable energy targets are met.”

The gap in production could be closed by the end of next year, he said.

The planned or proposed turbines equate to $A955,000 a year in local government rates, and development approval often depends on upgrading country roads.

Many of the projects centre on the shire, near Warrnambool on the state’s south-west coast, despite the south-east region being listed as a high wind zone.

Pacific Hydro, owned by New Zealand’s hydro-based electricity generator Meridian Energy, heads the pack with a massive 183-turbine, 334 megawatt farm at a 5500-hectare site at the Macarthur Wind Farm.

The company was the first to install turbines in the area with the 14-turbine, 18.3MW facility at Codrington. It also operates a 20-turbine, 30MW facility at Yambuk.

Two other companies are currently vying to get their projects operational or approved.

Australian Gamesa Energy proposes a 75-turbine facility stretching across seven grazing properties at Hawkesdale, 25km north of Warrnambool, and a 60-turbine, 120MW project on a 1700-hectare site 10km north-west of Port Fairy.

Last week, the Woolsthorpe community met with Wind Farm Developments about its proposed 20-turbine, 40MW facility, and the company also proposes a 50MW-60MW farm near Drysdale.

http://the.standard.net.au