Victorians must decide what type of energy future we want:
·    more dirty, coal fired power and the threat of coal exports, or
·    more renewables like wind, solar, wave energy and geothermal

Ted Baillieu has shown he stands with the coal industry.

You can help change that. Speak up for clean energy and local jobs.

Portland showed its support for the wind energy industry at today’s regional launch of the Victorian Wind Alliance at the Keppel Prince wind tower manufacturing facility.

The Victorian Wind Alliance was launched today, with organisers calling on Victorians who support wind energy to use town meetings and social media to make their voices heard.

The Victorian Coalition has now been in power for almost two years. Sadly, the news has been almost relentlessly negative on the question of environmental and climate change issues.

Check here for an assessment of their progress.

Today’s announcement that coal mining will be allowed to continue at Anglesea is possibly the worst in a long list of bad environmental decisions since the Baillieu government was elected, according to Friends of the Earth.

In late August, the Baillieu government implemented new planning rules which  place large sections of Victoria off-limits to wind farm developments through the creation of No Go zones, and set in place a 2 kilometre ‘right of veto’, whereby a single household can block any turbines within 2 kilometres of their home.

It appears that this has already threatened up to $525 million in investment and up to 1,400 jobs.

In recent months there has been a growing debate across Victoria about renewable energy projects. Wind farms, the proposed solar plants in the North West, and a range of geothermal investigations have both enthused and angered many in the community.

In response to these developments, Friends of the Earth has set up a website that seeks to engage the community on proposed renewable energy projects.

The Abbott government’s announcement of yet another review of wind energy and health is unnecessary and a waste of taxpayer money.

MEDIA RELEASE

Friends of the Earth welcomes the Victorian Premier’s official endorsement of the Macarthur wind farm today. Premier Napthine’s attendance at the opening of Australia’s largest wind farm signals a shift on wind energy.

MEDIA RELEASE

Victoria’s new Premier Denis Napthine reaffirmed the government’s opposition to wind farms this morning in an interview with ABC Radio’s Jon Faine.