The NSW government will add $413 million to the cash already on offer to rural communities and insist that wind and transmission towers are built further away from homes as it strives to “crack on” with much-needed renewable energy projects.

Australia’s most populous state hasn’t approved  a new wind farm since May 2021, prompting concern the nation’s clean energy transition has stalled and needs to be jolted back on track to maintain a stable electricity supply as coal power plants shut down at an accelerating rate.