The Victorian Government has fast-tracked two new renewable projects to accelerate the transition to cleaner power and help reduce energy costs for households.
The Brewster Wind Farm near Beaufort and the Baranduda BESS near Wodonga have been approved under the state’s Development Facilitation Program, which was expanded last year to speed up renewable energy projects.
The Brewster Wind Farm will feature six turbines with a combined capacity of 40 megawatts, it is capable of generating enough electricity to power approximately 25,000 homes annually.
The project is expected to create 80 construction jobs and 85 ongoing roles once operational.
Meanwhile, the 400-megawatt Baranduda BESS will connect to the Wodonga Terminal Station, providing crucial storage capacity to meet the evening peak demand of 140,000 households each year.
Victoria’s Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny said the initiative would help deliver cost-effective energy to Victorians faster.
“We’re fast-tracking renewable energy projects like the Brewster Wind Farm and the Baranduda Battery Storage System because we know the right projects in the right locations means cheaper power prices for Victorians sooner,” she said.
The fast-tracking program has already facilitated more than $1 billion in renewable energy projects, supporting Victoria’s push for cleaner energy while helping stabilise electricity prices.
Before the program’s introduction, more than one in five renewable energy project applications faced lengthy delays at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), with some approvals taking up to two years.
Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio highlighted the economic benefits of streamlining renewable energy approvals.
“Renewable energy is the cheapest form of new build energy available – that’s why we’ve cut red tape, making sure it can be built sooner, helping bring down power prices and create great new jobs for locals,” she said.
The State Government claimed it has consistently recorded the lowest wholesale power prices in Australia, and its investment in renewables aims to keep energy costs low while advancing the transition to cleaner power sources.
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