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 Doubts on wind Musselroe generator dismissed 

Doubts on wind Musselroe generator dismissed

23 Nov, 2009 07:15 AM
THE State Government yesterday denied that the $400 million Musselroe wind farm project would not proceed.

"The Government and Hydro Tasmania remains committed to the Musselroe project," a spokesman for Energy Minister David Llewellyn said.

"Substantial preparatory works worth more than $30 million have already been undertaken."

But Opposition energy spokesman Peter Gutwein said there had been a "go slow," in terms of developing the massive site for some time with contractors not being paid enough to make ends meet.

"The Government must explain whether the Musselroe farm has stalled and will now not be built," Mr Gutwein said.

"The Government needs to acknowledge the problems surrounding wind energy nationally.

"It needs to lobby the Federal Government as it did when John Howard was Prime Minister to shift the emphasis in renewable energy from solar."

Mr Gutwein said the emphasis in the renewable market in Australia had become too focused on solar to the detriment of other energy forms.

The renewable energy credit scheme had experienced a glut of solar power so that there was no room for the take-up of other sources such as wind.

"The renewable energy credit situation currently doesn't work," he said.

This means that the business case for the Musselroe wind farm doesn't stack up, Mr Gutwein said.

"I understand that the $400 million project is unable to reach financial close as a result of the financial model no longer stacking up due to the fall in the value of renewable energy certificates."

Mr Gutwein said he was concerned about the Northern companies involved in the project.

"They deserve to know whether or not this project will be built," he said.

Mr Llewellyn's spokesman said the Government didn't expect the current difficult market conditions to persist.

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Wind turbines are a health hazard google waubra wind farm health issues to see the mess in Victoria
Posted by Pete Babcock, 23/11/2009 9:32:39 AM, on The Examiner
Why is the opposition trying to push this? Wind farms are a total scam on the electricity using public, pushing the costs to unsustainable levels. The reason solar is more popular and better is that once you have it on your home you get free power, its not that hard to work out which is the most beneficial to the general public.
Posted by mick, 23/11/2009 11:58:25 AM, on The Examiner
The wind farm at Waubra in Victoria is a disgrace, don't let this happen in Tassie like its happened in Victoria. Toss turbines go solar
Posted by Helen, 23/11/2009 1:21:47 PM, on The Examiner
The contracts landholders sign up to are a legal mine field, visit www.spacountryguardians.org.au for the info wind companies don't want you to know
Posted by Helen, 23/11/2009 1:23:10 PM, on The Examiner
Turbines are outdated rubbish, the wind companies' spin is out rageous. It high time the pollies woke up to this rubbish. Go solar
Posted by Wal, 23/11/2009 1:24:46 PM, on The Examiner

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