Power shift: The Latrobe Valley looks for a new future, again brisbanetimes.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from brisbanetimes.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
29 January 2021
London-based renewable energy company Cubico Sustainable Investments has emerged as the principal project investor for the 180-200MW Delburn Wind Farm set to be built in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, overlooking the site of the now closed Hazelwood coal-fired power station.
Cubico, one of the world’s leading renewable energy infrastructure companies, announced on Wednesday that it had joined developer OSMI Australia as the joint development partner for the Delburn Wind Farm and will purchase 100% of the project prior to the beginning of construction.
“We are excited to be investing in this innovative project in the Latrobe Valley – Victoria’s energy generation heartland – and are committed to delivering a high-quality project that will support the economic transition of the region, as well as contributing to Victoria’s renewable energy targets,” said David Smith, Cubico’s Head of Australia.
Former Coal Communities Turn to Renewables
Renewable energy is rekindling economic opportunity in formerly coal-dependent communities all around the world. Dozens of countries worldwide are cutting their coal use at a staggering pace. Part of this change is due to public opposition to fossil fuels but a huge part is also due to plain economics. Because increasingly, the plummeting cost of alternatives like wind and solar is making it harder for the coal industry to compete. This might be great news for the planet, given that coal produces more carbon dioxide per unit of energy than any other source in common use. But it’s also crucial to acknowledge that, as a result of this decline, communities dependent on coal are hurting. For many of them, coal has put food on the table for generations.