Category: Pacific Hydro

Pacific Hydro, Regional Development, renewable energy and the energy grid, Renewable Energy Target, Snowtown II, South Australia, Wind Farm Benefits, wind farms19 Comments

Dispatch from SA: Wind provides 41% demand in the third quarter

Leigh Ewbank
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Wind energy watcher, David Clarke of South Australia has sent through another dispatch:

Dr Graham Bethune (CEO of Energy Quest – an energy advisory and research firm) said on ABC 891 Radio on 9 December, 2013 that in the third quarter of the year, 41 percent of South Australia’s electricity was generated by wind turbines.  He said that a further 4 percent came from solar power.

The wind power figure might well be higher than expected – I believe that September was unusually windy. However, SA’s installed wind power is to be increased by a further 22 percent when the currently under construction Snowtown Stage 2 is completed, so we could see 50 percent of SA’s power coming from the wind by 2015. Continue reading “Dispatch from SA: Wind provides 41% demand in the third quarter”

#Auspol, #SpringSt, Anti-wind farm campaigning, Cherry Tree Range wind farm, climate change, Pacific Hydro, Pollie Watch, Regional Development, Wind Farm Benefits, wind farmsLeave a comment

Ararat Councillor says wind farms are all good!

Leigh Ewbank

cr-g-allgoodToo many politicians at the local, state and federal level have abandoned the evidence and adopted an anti-wind farm stance.

There are those who have opposed wind energy fearing a backlash from constituents, and others have done so out of political opportunism. There are those with an ideological objection to renewable energy, and some, no doubt, have close ties with the fossil fuel sector and see wind energy as a threat to business as usual.

Then there are politicians like councillor Gwenda Allgood, who is a strong supporter of wind energy. Cr Allgood has fronted audiences in Seymour and King Island to tell the positive story of Ararat–a community in west Victoria that is immensely proud of its wind farm.

In an interview with ABC Radio last week, Ararat Regional City councillor Gwenda Allgood detailed her community’s experience with wind energy. Continue reading “Ararat Councillor says wind farms are all good!”

Challicum Hills, Cherry Tree Range wind farm, community support for windfarms, Pacific Hydro, Regional Development, victoria, Wind Farm Benefits, wind farms1 Comment

Ararat’s wind farm lessons for Mitchell Shire

Leigh Ewbank

On November 16, BEAM-Mitchell Environment Group and Yes 2 Renewables will present an Energy Futures Forum in Seymour. The event is already sparking interest in the region which is the site of the proposed Cherry Tree Range wind farm.

What is it like living near a wind farm? Do wind farms strengthen local economies and build resilient communities? These questions are on the minds of community members as they consider the region’s first wind farm.

We could think of no one better to explore these issues than long-serving councillor Gwenda Allgood. Here’s a taste of what Gwenda will cover at the Energy Futures Forum. Original article published by BEAM.  Continue reading “Ararat’s wind farm lessons for Mitchell Shire”

#Auspol, Baillieu Government, Clean Energy Finance Corporation, climate change, Coalition, Friends of the Earth, Labor, Napthine Government, Pacific Hydro, Portland, Regional Development, renewable energy, The Coalition, Tony Abbott, VC82, victoria, Wind Farm BenefitsLeave a comment

Good news for wind energy!

Leigh Ewbank

Screen Shot 2013-09-12 at 11.49.36 AM

Today is a good news day for wind energy in Victoria. The Clean Energy Finance Corporation announced it will provide a $70 million loan to Pacific Hydro to complete the final stage of the Portland Wind Energy Project.

Reporting for the Sydney Morning Herald, Peter Hannam writes:

The $10 billion green investment bank, set to be scrapped by the incoming Coalition government, has issued a loan to Pacific Hydro to build the final stage of its Portland wind farm in what is likely to be among the bank’s final deals.

The project will create hundreds of jobs, increase market competition and provide enough clean energy to power 31,000 homes, according to Pacific Hydro.

The CEFC’s backing of the final stage of the Portland wind energy project is a welcome boost for Victoria’s wind energy sector. It will create jobs in the South West while cleaning up the state’s polluting energy sector. The ambitious Portland Wind Energy Project was approved by the Bracks Labor government and has been over a decade in the making.

Good news stories in the wind energy sector are few and far between since the Baillieu government introduced the world’s most restrictive anti-wind farm laws, which have cost the state jobs, investment, income for farmers and clean energy.  Continue reading “Good news for wind energy!”

#Auspol, coal vs renewables, community support for windfarms, Pacific Hydro, Pollie Watch, renewables & employment, The Greens, Wind Energy Mythbusting, Wind Farm Benefits, wind farm panic, wind farms & health, Yambuk46 Comments

Pollie Watch: Greens Senator backs wind farms, dismisses wind/health claims

Leigh Ewbank

Greens Senator for Victoria, Richard Di Natale, has thrown his weight behind the wind power sector, publishing a short video of support while visiting the Yambuk wind farm near Warnambool. Appearing in front of whirling wind turbines, Senator Di Natale praises … Continue reading Pollie Watch: Greens Senator backs wind farms, dismisses wind/health claims

Codrington wind farm, community support for windfarms, Pacific Hydro, wind farms & health, wind farms & tourismLeave a comment

No windfarm health worries at Yambuk

Ben Courtice

So as a coincidental follow-on from yesterday’s news (Wind turbines not a health problem, say Germans and Danes), the Warrnambool Standard has an article today about the neighbours of the Codrington wind farm, the oldest in the state, built in 2001. Here’s how the article starts: Yambuk couple happy living with wind farms ALEX SINNOTT, 05 Apr, 2012 RESIDENTS situated near wind turbines along the south-west coast near Yambuk have dispelled concerns that the renewable energy generators cause health problems. Pacific Hydro linked up the Codrington wind farm to the power grid in 2001, the first of its kind in … Continue reading No windfarm health worries at Yambuk

Bass Coast, Bendigo, community support for windfarms, Macedon Ranges, Macedon Ranges community wind farm, Pacific Hydro, renewable energy, victoria, Victorian Coalition, wind farm 'no go' zones4 Comments

Councils challenge wind ban

Cam Walker

The following comes from the Weekly Times. Johanna Leggatt,  February 29, 2012 VICTORIAN local councils are taking their fight against wind farm bans to the State Government. The City of Greater Bendigo has written to the Government seeking a revision of the planning laws, which restrict new wind farms in parts of the state. Mount Alexander Shire Council requested an exemption from the laws last year, while the Woodend Integrated Sustainable Energy group has indicated it will also push for Macedon Ranges Shire Council to seek a reprieve from regulations. In August last year, the Victorian Government gave households the … Continue reading Councils challenge wind ban

Hawkesdale wind farm, Pacific Hydro, Ryan Corner wind farm, Salt Creek Wind Energy Facility, victoria, Victorian Coalition, wind farms, WindlabLeave a comment

update on costs of Victorian government wind policy

Cam Walker

In late August, the Baillieu government implemented new planning rules which  place large sections of Victoria off-limits to wind farm developments through the creation of No Go zones, and set in place a 2 kilometre ‘right of veto’, whereby a single household can block any turbines within 2 kilometres of their home. In September, FoE released it’s initial estimate of lost and stalled investment under this policy. The figure at that point was up to $955 million investment and up to 580 direct jobs in construction, 57 on-going jobs, and 1,274 indirect jobs. This all happened within a month of … Continue reading update on costs of Victorian government wind policy

Codrington wind farm, Pacific Hydro, Portland, Victorian Coalition, wind farmsLeave a comment

state wind laws ‘forces interstate move’ for Pac Hydro

Cam Walker

This article apperared in the Moyne Gazette on Moyne Gazette 17 Nov 2011. Journalist is EVERARD HIMMELREICH Pacific Hydro’s investment end State law forces interstate move LEADING Australian renewable energy company Pacific Hydro is unlikely to invest further in the south-west despite the recent passing ofthe Clean Energy Future Package through the Senate. Pacific Hydro Australia general manager Lane Crockett said Victorian legislation that imposed restrictions on the development of wind farms within two kilometres of a dwelling made it unlikely the company would develop any further wind farms in Victoria. Pacific Hydro has wind farms at Codrington and Yambuk … Continue reading state wind laws ‘forces interstate move’ for Pac Hydro