AGL has updated the community on Coopers Gap Wind Farm

AGL Energy Limited (AGL) has provided the community with an update on the proposed Coopers Gap Wind Farm in southern Queensland (Australia) at a Community Consultative Committee (CCC), a voluntary committee which includes various stakeholder and community representatives who have an interest or connection to the project, reunited on 30 June, 2016.

Discussion has included planning for a visit by local community members to AGL’s existing wind farms and the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Coopers Gap project, which has been on exhibition until 11 July, providing everyone with a chance to submit comments.The aim of the CCC is to help strengthen the community engagement process so that any arising community issues can be appropriately addressed. 

The Coopers Gap Wind Farm project is AGL’s foremost renewable energy project in Queensland. While there is some time to go before a final decision can be made on whether the project proceeds to construction, it is hoped that if it proceeds it would be financed through AGL’s Powering Australian Renewables Fund, which is currently being established.

The Coopers Gap Wind Farm, located in 13,200 hectares of freehold agricultural land, is proposed to have a capacity of up to 350 MW with around of 150 turbines, which would produce approximately 1,100 GWh of renewable energy, powering more than 190,000 average Australian homes. The renewable energy produced would reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 860,000 tonnes annually, which is the equivalent of taking over 250,000 cars off the road each year. The wind farm is planned to be connected to a new Powerlink substation along the new Western Downs to Halys 275kV transmission line built by Powerlink.

In December 2012, a research survey was conducted in the local area and broader Queensland to gain a greater understanding of community attitudes towards the project. According to this survey, 63% of local respondents support the development of the proposed Coopers Gap Wind Farm.