Despite having the best wind resources in the country, the Liberals have made Tasmania the hardest place to build a windfarm.

The Robbins Island and Whaleback Ridge windfarms, which Labor strongly supports, have both been delayed for years.

These delays have created a severe energy shortage in Tasmania. Last month, Tasmania had to get a third of its energy from gas and imported coal. Over the past nine months, an average of 174GWh has been imported from the mainland, and at least a dozen businesses and investors have been turned away from the state because Hydro has no power to provide them, at any price.

Given this, today’s announcement from Energy Minister Nick Duigan that he will limit Hydro’s involvement in renewable energy projects to those under 300MW doesn’t make sense.

Which projects does the Minister see Hydro investing in, that are under his new cap?

Why is the limit in place for Tasmania, when Hydro is currently investing in a 400MW windfarm at Mt Fyans in Victoria?

The Minister needs to explain why he is capping renewable energy investment in Tasmania – because as it stands it appears that yet again the Liberals will fail to deliver the energy projects Tasmania desperately needs.

Janie Finlay MP
Shadow Minister for Energy