Local Manufacturing Unions Concerned About Offshore Wind Project
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has begun a consultation regarding a proposed offshore wind project on the coast of Bunbury, Western Australia.
Unions are calling for offshore wind projects to include locally manufactured goods amid a planned wind energy development 20 kilometres (14 miles) off the coast of Burnbury, Western Australia.
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen opened a consultation on Feb. 20 for the Bunbury offshore wind zone.
The government touted this zone, south of Perth, as an ideal location for offshore electricity due to the high speed winds in the Indian Ocean.
Australian Manufacturers Workers Union (AMWU) national secretary Steven Murphy is concerned the federal government’s “lack of credible industry policy” will result in “more and more inferior wind towers dumped on Australian projects from overseas.”
Mr. Murphy said currently no provisions existed in the Bunbury offshore wind zone to ensure that “Australian produced steel or Australian manufactured goods are included.”
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“The reality is, we are in a global race for the jobs of the future, and Australia is standing still.”
But Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen claimed harnessing offshore wind would create “new job opportunities” in Western Australia along with energy security.
He stated the Albanese government was committed to “genuine consultation on offshore wind.”
“Offshore wind will be a critical new clean energy industry for Western Australians as electricity demand increases, helping to provide thousands of jobs along the way.”
Consultation Now Open
The public has until May 3 to make submissions for the potential offshore wind farm. Community information sessions are being held from March 19 to March 21.
Flotation Energy, which is headquartered in Scotland and proposing a 1.5 gigawatt Sea Lion project for the Bunbury offshore wind zone, welcomed the consultation.
“An offshore wind industry in Western Australia can significantly support energy intensive industries close to the desired points of connection, including hydrogen production facilities, lithium hydroxide plants, green steel manufacturing, and seawater desalination plants.”
Greenpeace Australia pacific head of climate and energy Jess Panegyres Western Australia said was “one of the windiest places in the world” and perfectly placed to “become a renewable energy superpower.”
“We don’t need more polluting fossil fuels like gas for local energy or export revenue when we have all we need, right here and now, to provide West Australians with a sustainable future.”
