Yet another wind energy mirage evaporates as Vestas Wind Energy announced today the closure of their Portland (Victoria) blade manufacturing plant with an estimated 140 job losses........"Premier Brumby has an opportunity to wipe the slate clean on wind energy as well as save some of Victorias' most treasured landscapes. Former planning minister, Mary Delahunty, approved wind turbines at Cape Bridgewater in 2002 but with the caveat "I also stated that planning approvals will not be granted for the four sites until satisfactory evidence is provided that the wind turbine manufacturing facility associated with the proposal will proceed in Victoria.""

Yet another wind energy mirage evaporates as Vestas Wind Energy announced today the closure of their Portland (Victoria) blade manufacturing plant with an estimated 140 job losses.

"Vestas is regrettably compelled to close down its blade factory in Portland, Australia, effective from the year-end."

See: http://www.vestas.com/NR/rdonlyres/ECCE8196-FB3A-4AC6-996E-905A9E7CCACB/1996/070821MFKUK32.pdf

Coastal Guardians Victoria spokesperson, Tim Le Roy, called on Victorian Premier, John Brumby, to immediately suspend and review the subsidies to the wind industry on the basis that most of their claims of job creation have proved false. "The Bracks Labor government recently made $2 billion available to the wind industry as subsidies under the Victorian Renewable Energy Target. Obviously this was not enough to satisfy this industry. The wind industry has made multiple claims as to job creation, including 2,500 jobs resulting from the Portland Wind Energy Project. These have proved totally false despite an enriched subsidy scheme offered by the Victorian government."

Mary Delahunty made the following comment in her assessment of PWEP "In excess of 380 direct jobs and up to 2100 indirect jobs if PWEP and the associated NEG Micon (Vestas) manufacturing proposal proceed;"

"The announcement by Vestas is just another devastating social consequence of dealing with the wind industry. Vestas and Pacific Hydro have built up the hopes of these 140 people who stand to lose their jobs off the back of more broken promises from a very ordinary industry", said Mr Le Roy. "People will try and blame the Federal government however the industry cannot ignore the massive subsidies on offer from the Victorian government. Don't forget that the wind industry promised to build a $100 million export industry as well."

"Premier Brumby has an opportunity to wipe the slate clean on wind energy as well as save some of Victorias' most treasured landscapes. Former planning minister, Mary Delahunty, approved wind turbines at Cape Bridgewater in 2002 but with the caveat "I also stated that planning approvals will not be granted for the four sites until satisfactory evidence is provided that the wind turbine manufacturing facility associated with the proposal will proceed in Victoria.""

See Point 9. http://www.land.vic.gov.au/CA256F310024B628/0/D5760A7515168908CA25728300143894/$File/86057559.pdf

"The Vestas announcement is another in a litany of broken promises, false hope and hot air generated by the wind industry. During the Bald Hills panel hearings former Victorian Energy minister, Theo Theophanous, travelled to Germany with a director of Wind Power Pty Ltd ( the Bald Hills permit applicant) and announced the establishment of the Victorian Renewable Energy Network. Another failure. "Mr Theophanous said the companies would be involved in Wind Power's Bald Hills 104 megawatt (MW) wind farm in South Gippsland - should the facility gain planning approval."

See: http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/955cbeae7df9460dca256c8c00152d2b/bcedebfe56fe3dd2ca256e65007ff68c!OpenDocument

For further comment please contact: (Further quotes and references are given below.)

Tim Le Roy

Spokesperson - Coastal Guardians Victoria

Tel: 0418 121 656

Delahunty's comments in relation to Portland Wind Energy Project panel report.

Conclusion on economic development

"It is my assessment that the economic benefits of the PWEP proposal in combination with and the manufacturing investment are very substantial for the Portland area and regional Victoria in general."

Panel recommendation

CB02 - If a significant inward investment does not appear likely to eventuate, the permit should be refused.

"For the reasons indicated in sections 4.7 and 4.8, it is my assessment that a planning permit should not be granted for wind turbines at Cape Bridgewater, until the Victorian Government is satisfied that a significant inward investment in manufacturing of wind turbines is likely to eventuate."

5.2.11 Economic Effects

Panel recommendation

ECN1 - Before any permits are approved, a desk top evaluation of net regional economic effects, taking into account the latest information about the proposed NEG Micon investment and tourism effects should be commissioned from an independent economic and tourism consultant.

Minister's Assessment

The regional economic benefits are already known to be substantial, hence an independent desk-top evaluation, at this stage, is not warranted.

Minister's Assessment

A permit will not be issued for turbines at Cape Bridgewater unless the Victorian Government is satisfied that the NEG Micon investment will eventuate.

The Bracks Government also concealed economic reports on wind energy from the public. These include:

A report from 2002 by Ernst & Young that contained analysis of the economics of wind energy and informed the Bracks wind energy policy.
A "Business Impact Assessment" dated 2006 of the Victorian Renewable Energy Target by the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commissioner.