THE proposed north-west renewable energy zone includes part of the controversial VNI West transmission line route and farm land near Boort that has had two wind turbine companies talking to landowners.
Acciona on Monday said it was still “working through the report” while the Meering West wind farm proponents did not make any comment.
While not in the REZ, two solar farm projects have been slated for the Loddon Shire.
Risen Energy’s Campbells Forest 205-megawatt project, originally meant to begin supplying the grid at least three years ago was last December selected as part of the Federal Government’s first Capacity Investment Scheme Tender Round to receive revenue underwriting through a capacity investment scheme agreement.
Work is yet to start on the construction of a solar farm at Derby announced in 2022. The 95-megawatt farm was one of six projects announced after the State Government’s Victorian Renewable Energy Target second round auctions.
Neither company replied to inquiries from the Loddon Herald.
Meanwhile, Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub last week met with local landowners on the VNI West route.
“We have had those initial talks and there are a lot of questions still to be answered,” he said. “We’ll be having more discussions with the landowners shortly.”