RENEWABLE Energy Systems Australia has applauded signals from the State Government that it will go it alone on renewable energy.
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Premier Daniel Andrews gave his strongest indication yet that Victoria could adopt its own Renewable Energy Target (RET) during a visit to the site of the Ararat Wind Farm last week.
RES Australia's head of development, Annette Deveson, said it was encouraging the State Government was looking at similar arrangements to the ACT.
"I think it would be very positive and make Victoria even more attractive to renewable energy development," she said.
"There are great resources here, great wind speeds, good solar insulation, so solar projects are also a possibility.
"With a Victorian RET that would be a very good supportive mechanism."
Ms Deveson said bipartisan support on the RET at the federal level had restored policy certainty within the industry.
"Things have improved considerably, compared to the last 18 months where there has been so much uncertainty around the Renewable Energy Target," she said.
"That really did act to seize up all development of wind farm projects.
"The bipartisan support on the RET really is the most important plank to allow development to continue, provide some certainty and bring investment back into the sector.
"As we have seen with Ararat and the investment we've been able to attract to the Ararat Wind Farm project, having the bipartisan support of the RET is absolutely crucial."
The $450 million Ararat Wind Farm is a 75 wind turbine project that will be the third largest of its kind in Australia.
Construction is expected to span two years, with power delivered to the grid from April 2017.
The project has signed a power-purchase agreement with the ACT Government that will guarantee the purchase of about 40 percent of the energy produced at the site.
Ms Deveson said the remainder will be sold on the sport market in the hope further power-purchase agreements can be reached.
Ararat Rural City Mayor, Cr Paul Hooper said economic modelling suggests the project could inject more than $40 million into the community over the next two years.
Creating 160 construction jobs and 13 ongoing full-time jobs after the wind farm is built.
