WIND ENERGY TARGET BLOWS AWAY: HALL

The State Government has failed miserably in its pledge to have 1000 megawatts of wind energy installed by this year, according to the Nationals' Energy Industries spokesman, Peter Hall.

"The Minister for Energy Industries admitted last week that, despite a target of 1000 megawatts of wind power by this year, there is in fact only about 120 megawatts at the moment," Mr Hall said.

"That is quite a pathetic result - a little over 10 percent of the target achieved."

Mr Hall said the outcomes to date called into question the long term relevance of wind energy as a major provider of power for Victoria.

"It is now clear that the Government should be focussing on a broader range of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Greater use of solar technologies, demand reduction measures and cleaner brown coal technologies should be further explored." Mr Hall said.

Mr Hall asked specifically about a windfarm proposed for Dollar in South Gippsland.

"However, all the Energy Industries Minister can tell me is that the application is still with the Planning Minister," he said.

"When the Energy Industries Minister doesn't even know the status of a major wind farm proposal, it shows the Bracks Government is more interested in the politics of wind energy than actual outcomes," Mr Hall concluded.

Media contact: Peter Hall's office (03) 5174 7066