South Australia is on track to be the “national leader” in renewable energy, says Premier Mike Rann.
At yesterday’s official launch of the Waterloo wind farm, 30km from Clare, Mr Rann said by the end of this year, 20 per cent of the state’s energy would come from renewable sources.
By 2020, he added, SA would produce 33 per cent of its energy needs from renewables. This far exceeded the Federal Government’s target of 20 per cent by 2020.
“SA will be a national leader in renewable energy,” Mr Rann said.
“What we are doing is embracing clean, green energy and we are proud of it.”
Renewable energy company Roaring 40s developed the Waterloo wind farm which has 37 wind turbines, generating up to 111 megawatts of power, or enough to power 46,000 homes.
The development, spread across 18km, has been controversial. While some locals have embraced it, others have raised concerns about the potential health and environmental impacts.
About ten protesters yesterday gathered at the entrance to the Waterloo wind farm, holding placards with slogans such as “wind farms ruin lives” and “more research needed”.
Concerns had been raised by some local residents about noise and other health issues, such as sleep deprivation.
Stop Industrial Wind Turbines chairwoman Ally Fricker was among the protesters and said the community was “bitterly divided” about the wind farm.
“Our view at the moment is (wind turbines) are not providing anything like the CO2 (carbon dioxide) reductions which are being claimed,” she said.
“I don’t believe we can overcome what clearly is a huge crisis by building these machines.
“If there’s a gain, there’s a very small gain.”
But Black Springs resident Kerry Heinrich said she and her family were thrilled about the Waterloo development.
“I’m very happy and there’s no issue with anything,” she said.
“I think (the turbines) are quite stunning; the magnitude of them all.
“They are just part of the landscape now and it would look unusual without them.”
Roaring 40s managing director Steve Symons said the company had regular meetings with concerned residents and the development complied with Environmental Protection Authority regulations.
“Ultimately, there will be some people who won’t be happy with the wind farm,” he said.
“You have got to remember that the vast majority of the community support the project.
“Our goal is to change the way people think about the energy they use, and to allow people the choices in their energy consumption that can benefit the environment in the long term.”
Roaring 40s planned to lodge an application for stage two of the $300 Waterloo wind farm project, as well as for farms at nearby Stony Gap and Robertstown.
