- Crows Nest Wind Farm
-
Crows Nest Wind Farm Country Australia Location Toowoomba, Crows Nest, Queensland Status Proposed Owner(s) AGL Energy Power station information Primary fuel Wind Generation units 40 Power generation information Maximum capacity 200 MW The proposed Crows Nest Wind Farm, will be located in south-eastern Queensland, 40 kilometres north of Toowoomba. It initially has was to have an installed generating capacity of 124 MW that would produce enough electricity for some 47,000 homes. It is expected that the wind farm will create 460 manufacturing and construction jobs and a further 15 full time maintenance jobs in Crows Nest. The Crows Nest location on the western edge of the Darling Downs, offers some of the best average wind speeds available in Queensland, and the project will provide additional security of electricity supply in this fast growing area.[1]
The project was acquired by AGL Energy in 2009 after purchasing it and another wind farm at Barn Hill in South Australia from Transfield Services.[2] In June 2009, AGL was allowed to increase the number of turbines by 20 units and therefore the output from 124 MW to 200 MW. The cost of the project is now expecting to be A$270 million.[3]
Objections
Residents of Crows Nest Shire formed a "No Wind Farm" group which objected to the proposal. The activists contended that turbine blades would cause light flicker as they passed the sun, turbines would cause noise, devalue land, be a detriment to fauna and visual appeal of the area and were contrary to the council's town plan. They also argued the green credentials of wind farms were a myth because large amounts of coal-fired energy was needed to power up generators to full capacity after a drop in wind speed. After drawn-out legal proceedings and mediation between the parties, the objections were progressively dropped.[4]
See also
References
- ^ Crows Nest Wind Farm receives Development Consent
- ^ "AGL buys Transfield wind farm projects". Brisbane Times (Fairfax Digital). 18 June 2009. http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-business/agl-buys-transfield-wind-farm-projects-20090618-citj.html. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
- ^ Stuart Cumming (2 February 2011). "Crows Nest wind farm to go ahead". The Chronicle (Toowoomba Newspapers Pty Ltd). http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2011/02/02/crows-nest-residents-opposed-to-a-giant-wind-farm/. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ (14 December 2006). Opponents vow to fight wind farm. The Chronicle. Toowoomba Newspapers Pty Ltd.
Energy in Queensland Proposed power stations Archer Point • Coopers Gap • Crows NestCoal Tarong • Tarong North • Stanwell • Gladstone • Callide • Collinsville • Kogan Creek • Swanbank B • MillmerranGas Condamine • Mica Creek • Swanbank E • Mount Stuart • Phosphate Hill • Darling Downs • Oakey • BarcaldineMajor Hydro Wivenhoe • Somerset • Barron Gorge • KareeyaMinor Hydro Tinaroo • Wivenhoe Small Hydro • KoombooloombaWind Farms Thursday Island • Windy Hill • List of wind farmsSolar Power Stations Companies Energex • Ergon Energy • QGC • Stanwell Corporation • Tarong Energy • CS Energy • AGL Energy • Origin Energy • Powerlink Queensland • EnvestraRegulators Department of Mines and Energy • Queensland Competition Authority • Australian Energy Regulator • Australian Energy Market CommissionMarket Operator Australian Energy Market OperatorHistorical Coordinates: 27°13′51.26″S 151°57′34.76″E / 27.2309056°S 151.9596556°E
Categories:- Wind farms in Queensland
- Proposed wind farms in Australia
- Queensland geography stubs
- Wind farm stubs
- Australian power station stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
