GREENPEACE and the Australian wind power industry have joined forces to promote the use of wind energy to the Government.
The groups aim to supply as much as 5,000 megawatts of power by wind within a decade. Today, less than 73 megawatts is produced by wind power.
If the target is achieved more than 2.3 million households could be powered by wind farms.
The Australian Wind Energy Association said that, similar growth in Australia to that in Europe would suggest the creation of almost 10,000 jobs if the target was reached.
It is estimated the 5,000 MW target would mean $10 billion of private sector investment in regional and rural areas.
Greenpeace believes it could cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 15 million tonnes – a 3.3 per cent cut in the nation’s total 1999 greenhouse gas emissions, equal to taking 3.4 million cars off the road.
“The next few years should be an exciting time with this target in place. After watching the growth of the wind sector in Europe, we hope to emulate that in Australia,” AusWEA president Heinz Dahl said.
