<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/dutton-vows-to-scrap-nsw-offshore-wind-zone-and-sink-10-billion-planned-project/>
"Peter Dutton has promised to “rescind” the declared offshore wind zone off the
coast of Port Stephens and the Hunter region in New South Wales if a Coalition
government is elected in 2025, scuppering the $10 billion plans for a 2
gigawatt project proposed for development there.
In a statement released on Thursday morning, the leader of the federal
opposition said development of the zone – an 1,800km² area between Swansea and
Port Stephens that was declared by federal Labor in July last year – would not
proceed under a Dutton Coalition government.
“The Albanese government has deliberately ignored serious economic, social and
environmental concerns raised by local residents by this proposed wind zone,”
Dutton said in a statement on Thursday.
“The Prime Minister, and his Energy Minister Chris Bowen, have shown complete
disregard to the people of Port Stephens, Newcastle, and the Hunter in a
desperate attempt to achieve their ideological target of a renewables-only
electricity grid.
“Enough is enough, and today we are announcing that this bungled project will
not proceed under a Dutton Coalition government.”
The move would sink the plans of the up to 2 gigawatt (2GW) Novacastrian
project being proposed for zone by Norwegian energy giant Equinor and Oceanex
Energy – the only project to be awarded a feasibility licence in the zone so
far, and tipped to be Australia’s first floating offshore wind project.
The proposed project has strong local ties through Oceanex, which was
established in Australia in 2020 by two of the founders of what will likely be
the nation’s first operational offshore wind farm, the 2GW Star of the South in
Victoria.
The company commissioned and in 2022 published an extensive Supply Chain
mapping report for the offshore wind industry and Oceanex CEO and co-founder
Andy Evans has said he hopes to have the $10 billion 130-turbine Novocastrian
project under construction from 2030.
“It’s is the biggest energy user, with the most black coal coming off the
market, so we were always enthused by New South Wales – and particularly the
Hunter,” Evans told Renew Economy in June.
“It’s been a powerhouse, powering New South Wales and Australia for almost 100
years. Great deepwater port, great skill sets… great workforce used to big
projects. So it was a really natural site for us to look at.”
This was once the opinion of the federal Coalition, too, and former federal
energy minister Angus Taylor, who in September 2021 trumpeted the successful
passage through parliament of the Offshore Energy Infrastructure Bill, paving
the way for the development of offshore wind farms in Australian waters.
“An offshore electricity industry in Australia will further strengthen our
economy,” Taylor said at the time
“Offshore generation and transmission can deliver significant benefits to all
Australians through a more secure and reliable electricity system, and create
thousands of new jobs and business opportunities in regional Australia.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
