THE state government has used wind farms in the Wimmera and Ararat to defend its renewable energy target after the opposition pledged to dump the scheme.
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Opposition leader Matthew Guy said on Monday that the Coalition, if elected in 2018, would remove the state-based incentives for low-emission electricity generation.
Mr Guy said Victorian households and businesses could not afford continued power price increases after the coal-fired Hazelwood station closed.
“Premier Daniel Andrews has set Victoria on the path to an energy security crisis," he said.
“Unless we act, Victoria is bound to have regular South Australian-style blackouts because of Daniel Andrews.
“A Liberal Nationals government I lead will scrap this unrealistic target so Victorians don't have repeated black-outs and higher electricity prices.”
Mr Guy said Victorian household electricity prices increased by about 10 per cent in January, while small businesses saw a 7.9 to 16.6 per cent increase.
Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said Mr Guy’s proposal would damage jobs and investment in regional Victoria.
She pointed to the proposed $662 million wind farm at Murra Warra, about 25 kilometres north of Horsham, and the soon-to-be completed Ararat Wind Farm as reasons to keep the state target.
“The vast majority of these jobs will be in regional Victoria. We’ve already seen $450 million invested in a 240 megawatt wind farm in Ararat – a project which will create 165 jobs in the region,” he said.
“The Andrews Labor Government has also supported a further $220 million investment into two new wind farms which will begin construction this year, bringing hundreds more jobs into regional Victoria.”
In December, Victoria’s Planning Minister Richard Wynne granted permission for UK-based company Renewable Energy Systems to go ahead with its proposal to build a 160-turbine wind farm at Murra Warra.
Mr Wynne also approved a 13-turbine wind farm at Kiata in June.
Mr Guy’s pledge to scrap a Victoria’s renewable energy target comes after a debate over wind and solar power following blackouts in South Australia during extreme heat this month.
If the Coalition is elected and removes Victoria’s renewable scheme, there will likely still be an equivalent federal program.