Victorian wind farm project to power 1.2 million homes

The Victorian Government has taken a step towards providing what it states is the biggest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere.

Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny has signed off on the Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the Warracknabeal Energy Park — marking a milestone in the state approvals process. Once complete, the 219-turbine wind farm is planned to deliver more than 1.5 gigawatts of renewable energy — enough to power up to 1.2 million homes.

The government said the project would become the highest-producing wind facility in Victoria and generate around 12.5% of the state’s future energy needs. It is expected to create almost 950 jobs during construction, with ongoing local jobs once operational.

“This project would be a massive boost to Victoria’s renewable energy capacity — powering more than one million homes with cheaper, cleaner energy,” said Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio.

The project will also contribute to Victoria’s renewable energy targets of 65% by 2030 and 95% by 2035.

The Warracknabeal Energy Park has gone through Victoria’s EES process, including technical studies, community consultation and a public inquiry. Further approvals are still required before a final decision is made, including Commonwealth approval under national environmental laws.

“This is a major step towards delivering the biggest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere, right here in Victoria,” Kilkenny said.

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