August 7 2014
Greens WA spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change, Robin Chapple MLC, has expressed outrage that Synergy has no plans to replace the turbines of the iconic Ten Mile Lagoon wind farm in Esperance after the facility reached the end of its design life last year.
These doubts about the facility’s future come after revelations last year much of the electricity produced at the site was simply wasted due to market guarantees the state government gave to fossil-fuel generation.
Mr Chapple said not replacing and upgrading the turbines would be an enormous step backwards.
“Now is the time when we should be investing all we have in developing and establishing renewable energy infrastructure to secure the energy needs of future generations of Australians,” he said.
“All the state government can see is the short term cash grab – they’ve admitted they’re wasting the energy produced from these turbines.
“We are already falling behind much of the rest of the world in this regard, and yet our government is actively trying to widen that gap!
“The Ten Mile Lagoon facility is established infrastructure; replacing those turbines should be a given for a government with any sense.”
Mr Chapple said aside from the obvious environmental implications it would be a shame to lose such an iconic piece of Australian history.
“The Ten Mile Lagoon Wind Farm was the first commercial facility of its kind in Australia and a technological icon,” he said.
“Its conception sought a solution to the region’s dependence on fossil-fuel generation, as Esperance is not connected to the grid.
“This lack of commitment by Synergy is not only an insult to the history of the Ten Mile Lagoon project, but just proves this government has none of the foresight shown by its predecessors in building the facility in the first place.”
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255.
