Antinuclear

Rural Australia’s economy damaged by stopping wind farms

there have been many credible health studies all over the world and none has ever found that wind turbines can directly cause health problems

 wind farms currently proposed in Australia had the potential to generate up to $15 billion worth of investment across the
country and create nearly 10,000 direct jobs.

Wind farm halt would hurt nation, http://www.goulburnpost.com.au/news/local/news/general/wind-farm-halt-would-hurt-nation/2452728.aspx , Goulburn Post13 Feb, 2012  ANY moratorium on wind farm development would drive billions of dollars of investment out of Australia and hurt farmers and regional communities, the renewable energy industry’s peak body says.

The Clean Energy Council said a moratorium on new wind farms, called for by Democratic Labor Party Senator John Madigan and Independent Senator Nick Xenophon in the Senate last week, would hurt rural towns and businesses.

“Wind farms bring investment to regional towns and help farmers diversify to support their businesses and families,” Mr Thornton said. “Placing a moratorium on wind farms would remove this source of support to regional and rural communities.

“This would be particularly irresponsible given the fact there have been many credible health studies all over the world and none has ever found that wind turbines can directly cause health problems,” he said.

Mr Thornton said wind energy was one of the safest and cleanest
sources of power available and it was unfortunate Senators Madigan and
Xenophon were apparently being influenced by a vocal minority of
antiwind farm activists.

“However, we were heartened to see common sense prevail yesterday and
the Senators’ call for a moratorium removed by the Coalition with the
support of the Senate,” he said.

Mr Thornton said wind farms currently proposed in Australia had the
potential to generate up to $15 billion worth of investment across the
country and create nearly 10,000 direct jobs.

“Wind power will be critical in enabling Australia to meet its
Renewable Energy Target of 20 per cent by 2020 at the lowest cost
possible.

“We call on elected representatives around Australia to get the full
story on wind power before drawing conclusions and making statements
that hurt the very people they are meant to be helping.

“We urge governments, oppositions, minor parties and independents to
ensure they consider recent research across Victoria, New South Wales
and South Australia showing that more than 80 per cent of people
support wind farms.”

Mr Thornton said over the 12 months to October last year, Australia’s
1188 wind turbines generated enough electricity to power the
equivalent of more than 900,000 homes
http://www.goulburnpost.com.au/news/local/news/general/wind-farm-halt-would-hurt-nation/2452728.aspx

February 14, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics