Energy minister admits to mistakes during lagging renewables rollout
NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe says the rollout of renewable energy zones has been "too slow", with mistakes inevitable as part of efforts to speed up the process.
New South Wales Energy Minister Penny Sharpe has admitted that mistakes will inevitably occur in the rapid rollout of renewable energy projects. This admission follows the destruction of an Aboriginal heritage site within the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) earlier this year by a renewable energy consortium. Sharpe revealed this during a speech at the National Renewables in Ag Conference in Orange.
She expressed her dismay at the actions of the consortium, emphasizing that the community should not have their heritage disregarded when such incidents happen. The minister stated that the rollout of the Central-West Orana REZ has been excessively slow, as the state strives to meet its energy targets. She added that haste in construction often leads to errors.
Sharpe announced a grant funding program for farmers within the REZ, set to launch in the coming months. This $1.4 million Smart Funding Program will cover 70 percent of the cost of eligible agricultural technology, up to $35,000 per installation. The aim is to assist producers in affording tools that improve productivity, safety, and business resilience.
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