The Allan Labor Government is helping drive down power bills and delivering local jobs, with early works beginning on the SEC Delburn Wind Farm near the Latrobe Valley.
Minister for the State Electricity Commission Lily D'Ambrosio today visited the SEC Delburn Wind Farm site, where construction will begin in March ahead of operations starting in 2028.
The 33-turbine wind farm will have a generation capacity of up to 205 megawatts of renewable energy to the electricity grid, enough to power more than 130,000 homes with renewable power. The SEC will hold 100 per cent ownership of the project.
The project will bring significant local economic benefits, including more than 300 local jobs and more than $22 million in neighbour and community benefit sharing programs over its operational life.
The SEC and its partners are inviting local businesses and suppliers to be part of the project, creating opportunities for Gippsland-based companies and workers to support the wind farm's construction and long-term operations, strengthening the region's local supply chain.
The Latrobe Valley has a highly skilled local workforce with decades of energy generation expertise and an established transmission network ready to connect renewable energy to the grid.
This is the first wind farm in Victoria to reach financial close in the past 12 months and marks the SEC's return to power generation in Gippsland since it was sold off by the Liberal and Nationals 30 years ago - helping keep wholesale energy prices low in the future.
The SEC is well on track to deliver 4.5 gigawatts of renewable energy and storage by 2035 with more than a gigawatt of projects, including 819 megawatts of solar and battery storage at the SEC Renewable Energy Park in Horsham and the now operational Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub near Melton.
As stated by Minister for the State Electricity Commission Lily D'Ambrosio
"This project shows exactly why we brought the SEC back - to invest in renewable energy that delivers real benefits for Victorians, helps lower power prices and keeps generation in public hands."
"Delburn Wind Farm is a step forward for renewable energy in Gippsland, creating local jobs and securing reliable, affordable power while marking the SEC's return to power generation in the region for the first time in 30 years."
As stated by Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh
"We're delivering cheaper power and local jobs by backing in renewable energy near the Latrobe Valley, with the SEC once again investing in publicly owned generation that puts downward pressure on power prices."
As stated by SEC Chief Executive Officer Chris Miller
"The SEC Delburn Wind Farm is an important project for the SEC and the region. We're looking forward to engaging with the Gippsland community on the many exciting work and supplier opportunities that it will offer."
