The viability of Hepburn Wind is under threat as the federal Coalition looks more and more likely to reverse its longstanding commitment to renewable energy.
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Despite criticism from within its own ranks, the Coalition appears poised to cut back the Renewable Energy Target scheme introduced by the Howard Government in 2002.
There is even some possibility the scheme could be dumped.
The uncertainty is causing concern among supporters of the locally-developed wind project.
Simon Holmes a Court, founding chairman of the Hepburn Wind Community Co-operative, said more than 1500 people wrote to the prime minister’s renewable energy review panel last month asking for the target to be increased, not cut, and for the coalition to not break the commitment to renewables it made 14 years ago.
Mr Holmes a Court said the Coalition took this commitment to the last election and has supported the RET scheme at each of the past five elections.
“Although the support is a good start, we’re increasingly concerned by Canberra’s stance on everything to do with clean energy,” Mr Holmes a Court said.
“Is the RET review just a carbon copy of the commission of audit/budget process?
“We’ll know a lot more once we’ve met with them,” he said.
In a letter inviting RET chairman Dick Warbuton to visit Hepburn Wind and speak with its members, Mr Holmes a Court wrote, “Our (HW) business is already feeling the effects of the market uncertainty created by the review and our members are very concerned by the apparent change of stance by the federal government in relation to clean energy.
“This new sovereign risk is already impacting our business and has the potential to create significant and negative flow-on effects for our members and ultimately our community.
“Most of the $9.8m invested in HW was invested by ‘mum and dad’ investors at a time when all major political parties were united in their support for both pricing carbon and building strong renewable energy sector.”
“The $9.8 million invested by Hepburn Wind’s members was predicated on long standing legislation that had enjoyed unequivocal support across the political spectrum.
“The Renewable Energy Target is doing exactly as it was always expected to do. The target is encouraging the development of a clean energy sector, reducing pollution and creating opportunity in regional communities. There should be no surprise that the coal and gas generators that have failed to invest in newer technologies want to take us back to an earlier era, even if it costs the community,” Mr Holmes a Court wrote.
Representatives from 70 communities across the country wanting to build their own wind or solar projects are watching the review closely and asked the panel to “stay the course”, and if anything, to increase the target in line with other leading economies throughout the world.
The Victorian Greens leader, Greg Barber, says the Greens are fully in support of calls to boost renewable energy generation across the state.
“The Liberals anti-wind farm rules need to be scrapped,” Mr Barber said.
“The Greens voted against those rules in this parliament and we will reverse them if we can get the votes in the next parliament.
“There are already permits approved for over 850 wind turbines in Victoria. They are ready to start construction, but the attacks by the federal government on the Renewable Energy Target are holding back investment,” Mr Barber said.
“I’m hopeful we can save the target in the Senate and, depending on the outcome of the vote on that, we could look at bringing back a Victorian Renewable Energy Target.”
