Wind farm companies say Victoria is missing out on billions of dollars worth of investment because the planning laws make it too hard to apply for new wind turbines.
It is almost a year since the Government created no-go zones for wind farms.
The new planning laws prevent turbines from being built within 2kms of a house without the home owner’s written consent.
The Government says the laws ensure residents are protected from potential environmental and health impacts.
But since then there has not been one new application for a turbine.
Keppel Prince Engineering builds the towers for wind farms and general manager Steve Garner says the future is bleak.
“In Victoria we have a Government that doesn’t want to support it or look towards clean energy,” he said.
He says the previous Labor government approved more than 1,000 turbines but once that work dries up there will be nothing.
Russell Marsh of the Clean Energy Council says Victoria’s industry is feeling the pinch.
“There are billions of dollars in regional investment that could flow into Victoria as a result of the development of wind farms,” he said.
A spokeswoman for the Planning Minister Matthew Guy says the Government is committed to renewable energy and there are currently permits for 1,100 turbines, all approved by the previous government.
