In a key moment for Victoria’s transition to renewable energy, the Latrobe Valley’s first wind farm has been approved by Victorian planning minister Richard Wynne MP.

Once constructed, the Delburn wind farm will be situated in pine plantation south of Morwell and overlook the retired Hazelwood coal fired power station and mine site.

Building the project is expected to create up to 186 new full-time equivalent jobs during construction, 24 ongoing jobs over the the operating life of the project, and power an estimated 135,000 Victorian homes with clean renewable energy.

The announcement comes one day before the fifth anniversary of the closure of the Hazelwood coal fired power station.

writes Yes2Renewables Gippsland Campaigner Wendy Farmer.

The Latrobe Valley’s energy transition is like a puzzle that needs many pieces. And those puzzle pieces are starting to come together.

The start of 2022 has been defined by major announcements about closure dates for Victoria’s coal plants and the state government’s game changing plans to establish a new offshore wind industry for the state.

Meanwhile, a Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the closure of the Yallourn and Hazelwood coal fired power stations got underway. The inquiry began hearings in November 2021, with further hearings held through February and March 2022, giving parliamentarians the chance to hear from many speakers from community groups, NGOs, local councils, energy experts and businesses about the need to plan for the future of energy security, reliability and jobs in the Latrobe Valley. 

Environment group Friends of the Earth Melbourne are pleased to see an new wind farm proposed for the Latrobe Valley and say the project shows state efforts to tackle climate change are gaining momentum.

The group that led the community campaign for a Victorian Renewable Energy Target says the Delburn Wind Farm is a sign the state’s energy sector is in transition.

“Victoria’s energy system is shifting from polluting fossil fuels towards clean renewable energy and it’s good news for efforts to tackle climate change,” said Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth’s climate spokesperson.

According to proponent OSMI, the Delburn Wind Farm would generate enough electricity to power 200,000 homes, cut Victoria’s carbon emissions by 980,000 tonnes of carbon per annum, and operate for 25 years.

“Our children will have jobs that don’t exist yet.”

Bob Massie is the outgoing President and CEO of the New Economy Coalition, whose mission is to support a just transition to a new economy that enables both thriving communities and ecological health. He has degrees from Princeton and Yale and a doctorate in business policy from Harvard University. In 2011, he was a candidate for the US Senate. He was the keynote speaker in a recent Australian tour organised by 350.org Australia and Earthworker Cooperative – “Just Transitions” – discussing the development of new economies that better support people and the planet. Massie advocates for the transition to a clean energy economy to include people currently working in the fossil fuel industry.