October 27, 2017
Australia

Flyers Creek still in the planning

Danielle Cetinski | Central Western Daily | www.centralwesterndaily.com.au

The company behind the Flyers Creek wind farm says it is unclear what effect the Coalition party room’s scrapping of the clean energy target will have on the project.

Infigen Energy spokeswoman Megan Richardson said the modification to remove three properties from the project had been lodged with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment in May, nine months later than anticipated.

“The planning modification application is currently being assessed by the Department of Planning and Environment and Infigen expects to receive an approval in November,” she said.

“The existing project approval is for 42 turbines – the planning modification requests the removal of four turbines, which would result in a final approved project layout of 38 turbines.”

After the Turnbull government announced the national energy guarantee (NEG) would replace the clean energy target last week, Infigen boss Ross Rolfe said he was unconcerned about the impact on wind and solar investment.

Ms Richardson said in the company’s view, the proposed NEG was a workable concept.

“[It] would continue to encourage more renewables being entered into the system as more coal is retired, however, more detail needs to be made available before we can draw any further conclusions on the framework’s effects on Flyers Creek Wind Farm or Infigen,” she said.

“The longer the debate drags on and decision on policy is delayed, the longer it will take to get electricity prices to a sustainable level.”

In June last year, Infigen was seeking offtake contracts to help fund the project, however Ms Richardson said they were no longer needed.

“Infigen does not require a committed offtake contract in order to make a final investment decision or fund the project,” she said.

“This provides us with flexibility to decide to proceed once the project is construction ready.”

The original approval gave the company until March 2019 to start construction and Ms Richardson said it was working towards having the project ready by then.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/10/27/flyers-creek-still-in-the-planning/