Vic: Government policy a blow to wind farm

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2009
Vic: Government policy a blow to wind farm

An 800 million dollar wind farm planned for Victoria's west may not go ahead .. as
a collapse in the price of renewable energy certificates threatens the industry's future.

The Age newspaper says AGL Energy may dump the wind farm planned for Macarthur .. near
Hamilton in Victoria's southwest .. unless the federal government can resolve the uncertainty
in the sector.

AGL Energy director MICHAEL FRASER says the 350-megawatt wind farm would go ahead under
enormous pressure .. but he's warned that the value of renewable energy certificates issued
for green power production has almost halved.

Mr FRASER says prices have dropped because the certificates are now being issued to
householders who install solar hot water systems and other renewable energy products that
don't generate power.

AAP RTV jrd/af

KEYWORD: WIND VIC (MELBOURNE)

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