Queensland splashes $780m on major wind farm

The Palaszczuk government has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to help develop Australia’s largest publicly owned wind farm.

The Queensland government has committed nearly $780 million to build Australia’s largest publicly owned wind farm.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Tarong West Wind Farm in the South Burnett would create enough electricity to power up to 230,000 homes.

At a press conference this morning, Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said it would power “the size of the Gold Coast”, and would be the “equivalent of taking 230,000 cars off the road”.

He said existing cattle farmers located near the wind farm would be able to operate as usual.

The project will include up to 150 turbines and generate 500MW, with 200 jobs created during the construction phase and 15 ongoing roles when the farm up and running.

“It’s investments like this that will ensure we deliver on our net-zero ambitions and our promise to Queenslanders to become a global renewable energy superpower,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Annastacia Palaszczuk will unveil the funding announcement on Monday.

Ms Palaszczuk will deliver the State of the State address on Wednesday which she has repeatedly said will include “the biggest announcement in the energy and climate change space”.

“We now have 50 renewable energy projects operating or committed across Queensland,” she said following the funding announcement of the Tarong West Wind Farm.

“That’s billions of dollars already invested in setting us up to capitalise on the jobs, industries, and exports of the future.

“We are now focused on what the next decade will look like, and I’ll have a lot more to say on this in this week’s CEDA State of the State address.”

Ms Palaszczuk this morning said the address would be the most important she would give as Premier.

“Be under no illusion, you will see our clear energy plan for this state,” she said.

But she refused to answer if the wind farm project would lead to early shutdowns of coal fired power stations.

She remained tight-lipped on other energy incentives to be announced by the government on Wednesday.

“There’s about $20 million worth of investment on the books, there’s definitely an appetite for this type of investment in Queensland,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said renewable energy investment had tripled since she came into office.

“There was 7 per cent renewable energy in our market, now that’s 21 per cent.

“Queensland is set to become a renewable energy powerhouse.”

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said the project was important stage in developing the state’s renewable energy capabilities.

The proposed wind farm southwest of Kingaroy was an important addition for the publicly owned Stanwell Corporation, Mr de Brenni said, which will increase the state’s renewable capabilities.

“It provides assurance that Queensland will be able to deliver on its promise of affordable and reliable power for new industries and new manufacturing sectors in the clean energy era of tomorrow,” he said.

“By growing our publicly owned portfolio of clean energy generation, it means Queenslanders will continue to control their energy system as it transforms to lower emissions.”

But a final decision on the project isn’t expected until 2024 with construction to begin once approval is finalised.

Stanwell chief executive Michael O’Rourke said the project would assist the Queensland government-owned energy company to offset a portion of its green house gas emissions.

“The Tarong West Wind Farm project supports decarbonisation of our existing portfolio and will help us to meet our customers’ demand for renewable energy products,” he said.