By Melissa Coleman
The Southern Downs will play a key role in powering the State Government’s 10-year Energy and Jobs Plan, announced last week, as home to the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere.
The 10-year plan shows a drive to transition to lower emissions by raising Queensland’s renewable energy sources from 50 per cent by 2030 to 80 per cent by 2035.
The region will play a critical role in what is being called the clean energy industrial revolution.
However, in order to execute this reform large-scale investment will be needed to meet the targets that have been set.
The Acciona MacInytre Precinct already employs several local business houses including Loy and Sons Plant Hire, Hutchinson Quarry and Enwaste – Waste Removal.
And as the wind farm progresses through construction more opportunities for employment will become available.
Acciona is looking to employ up to 450 workers in construction and an additional 220 jobs through Powerlink constructing the transmission infrastructure to connect MacIntyre to the national electricity grid.
An Acciona spokesman said when procuring and contracting works, they gave priority to businesses located within 125 km of the MacIntyre Precinct so the benefits are felt locally and regional economies benefit from the work.
The MacIntyre Wind Precinct will be the biggest wind farm in the southern hemisphere and when fully functional exactly 180 turbine sites will generate 1,026MW of renewable energy, enough power for the equivalent of 700,000 homes.
