Environment group Friends of the Earth welcome the Andrews government's announcement Geelong will now be home to Victoria's newest wind energy manufacturing facility, the Vestas Renewable Energy Hub.
“This is exactly the kind of renewable energy investment Victoria needs to create long-term jobs in climate action” said Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth's renewable energy spokesperson.
The facility will employ 27 people manufacturing wind turbine hubs for the Berrybank and Dundonnell wind farms – successful auction winners as part of Victoria's Renewable Energy Target – and act as a service and training centre.
“Each of the 27 wind workers employed here and the many others who will be trained at the facility will be helping cut polluting greenhouse gas emissions by manufacturing clean, renewable energy technology”
“Will opposition leader Matthew Guy and welcome the good renewable energy news for Geelong? It's unacceptable he is going to the election with no plan to create renewable energy jobs and act on climate change.”
The Matthew Guy opposition has pledged to axe Victoria's Renewable Energy Target of 40% by 2025, putting 10,000 new jobs in wind and solar at risk.