What’s stopping windy Western Australia from developing wind power?

Why isn’t WA harnessing wind power?, WA Today April 4, 2012 – Perth is an international hotspot for windsurfing and the destination of choice for the ISAF Sailing World Championships. If you thought Western Australia was a leader in wind power, think again.
New research reveals while Perth is the third windiest capital in the world, it is in the doldrums when it comes to wind power….. With an average wind speed of more than 27km/h and twelve operating wind farms lining the coast from Coral Bay to Albany, WA could be leading the nation.
Online social commentator and writer David Clarke says government
reluctance to build and maintain the high-capacity electricity
transmission lines needed could be slowing down WA’s wind power.
“WA has some big wind farms, but for some reason growth is slow. The
presence and status of high capacity power lines could be an important
factor.”
Shadow Minister for Energy Bill Johnston says the government can do better…..
Mr Johnston says the government push to re-merge State-owned energy
companies Verve and Synergy will crush innovation by private
investors.
“The Northern Reinforcement Line, which will run up to potential wind
power sites near Geraldton, is four years late and way over cost
already.
“The state government doesn’t seem to be prepared to invest in the
infrastructure that private investors in the wind energy sector would
need.”
Renewable energy is big news across the world. This week, the Danish
Government announced new targets that would see 35 per cent of
Denmark’s electricity coming from renewable resources by 2020, and 100
per cent by 2050.
Mr Clarke says there is no reason that WA could manage wind power at
the levels achieved by SA….. The Minister for Energy was not
available to comment.
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/why-isnt-wa-harnessing-wind-power-20120403-1waop.html#ixzz1r6r0V7eB