Samantha Landy reports on the opposition leader Daniel Andrews’ pro-wind farming stance and the launch of the Victorian Wind Alliance for the Herald Weekly Times:

VICTORIAN opposition leader Daniel Andrews has affirmed his support for wind energy.

The Labor leader slammed the Baillieu Government for crippling Victoria’s “once thriving wind energy sector” in his speech at a Melbourne Press Club lunch on Tuesday, saying its anti-wind farm stance had cost the state jobs, particularly in regional Victoria.

“Wind energy investment and job creation has been fundamentally compromised by the Baillieu Government,” Mr Andrews said.

“To cripple these projects is poor leadership.

“Renewable energy is the future and Labor will be releasing a detailed policy on energy closer to the election.”

Mr Andrews said Labor’s aim was to play a leadership role on renewable energy, like the former Labor Government when it was in power.

Victoria became the first state to introduce a Renewable Energy Target, sparking around $4 billion of investment in renewable energy projects.

In August last year, the Baillieu Government released planning laws prohibiting wind-farm developers building turbines within 2km of a home without the owner’s written consent and outlining “no-go zones” for development across the state.

It was revealed in July that these laws had resulted in no new applications to build wind farms in the state.

Labor opposed the amendments.

Victoria’s pro-wind energy sector vowed to fight back, last week launching the Victorian Wind Alliance to build support for the renewable energy.