MEMBER for Monaro, John Barilaro, has called on the NSW government to cease consideration of wind farm developments across the state until the federal government has developed a response to their review of the renewable energy scheme.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The major review into the federal government’s renewable energy targets (RET) will look at the impact of clean energy on retail power prices.
Mr Barilaro said it would be irresponsible to allow proposed wind farm developments to proceed until the results of the review are handed down.
“I have asked the NSW planning minister to consider proposing a moratorium on all wind farm developments until the federal government has announced a response to this review,” Mr Barilaro said.
“As a principle I am opposed to new wind farm developments.
“Federal government subsidies make the financial viability of these proposals artificially inflated and I am strongly opposed to tax payer funds being used to unnaturally prop up projects that lack community support and have questionable environmental benefits.
“I note that the new federal government has hinted at a potential decrease in subsidies for new renewable energy investments as a result of this review.
“It would therefore be wise to place on hold all pending wind farm applications.”
A proposal for Jupiter Wind Farm, south of Tarago, is in the early stage of the NSW government’s State Significant Investment assessment process.
“The level of uncertainty surrounding the Jupiter Wind Farm is causing deep concern to my community” Mr Barilaro said.
“I am calling on my minister to inject some certainty into this situation, by freezing consideration on wind farm developments until the future of the sector is made apparent.”