Environment Victoria welcomed today’s announcement that the Carroll government has launched offshore wind auctions, noting that offshore wind farms taking advantage of the strong, persistent winds of Bass Strait can supply Victoria with reliable, affordable, home-grown clean energy at scale.
Dr Kat Lucas-Healey, Environment Victoria’s Senior Climate and Energy adviser, said Offshore wind is set to play a central role in replacing Victoria’s generation capacity as ageing, increasingly unreliable coal-fired power stations retire over the next decade.
“Renewables already supply more than 45 per cent of the state’s electricity, delivering the cheapest wholesale power prices in the country and offshore wind is a vital step in building on that momentum.”
“Offshore wind is a crucial part of our future energy mix. Harnessing our significant offshore wind resources will provide clean, affordable and reliable energy to Victorians.”
“Renewables are now supplying 45 per cent of the state’s electricity, giving us the cheapest wholesale prices in the country.”
“An offshore wind industry will help deliver reliable clean energy as Victoria’s aging and increasingly unreliable coal-fired power stations retire over the next decade.”
“It’s important that offshore wind is built with the best possible outcomes for the local environment and in consultation with Traditional Owners and local community.”
Environment Victoria has further called on the Victorian government to implement the Western Port Framework, a whole of bay plan and fund to ensure that the environment is properly protected and managed alongside developments in this region. This would include the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal – the proposed Port of Hastings facility that would support the construction of the wind farms.
“Implementing the Western Port Framework would provide certainty for both communities and businesses by establishing a community-led marine spatial plan, and ongoing funding for the care of Western Port’s precious, internationally significant wetlands,” said Dr Lucas-Healey.
“The Victorian government should implement a whole-of-bay plan for Western Port to demonstrate to the community that this ecosystem is being properly cared for and to increase certainty for the Port of Hastings and offshore wind developers.”