Newcastle Needs a Champion for Offshore Wind, Says Greens Candidate

newy.com.au – The future of offshore wind energy in Newcastle and the Hunter is at risk due to political indecision and misinformation, according to Greens candidate Charlotte McCabe. She has criticised the Liberal Party’s stance on energy policy, arguing that their conflicting positions have stalled investment and job creation in the region.

McCabe emphasised the potential of offshore wind to generate thousands of jobs and provide up to 5GW of renewable energy, a crucial element in Newcastle’s transition from fossil fuels. However, she warned that progress had come to a standstill due to uncertainty and fearmongering.

“Everything has come to a grinding halt at this critical moment when investment in one of our region’s future economic drivers is left hanging in the balance,” McCabe said.

She accused the Liberal Party, led by Peter Dutton, of spreading misinformation about offshore wind projects, including claims that they harm marine life. “Dutton’s Liberal Party is engaged in an intentional misinformation campaign about wind farms killing whales and damaging fish populations. There’s never been any evidence to demonstrate this. In the meantime, climate change is heating up our oceans, bleaching coral reefs, killing kelp forests, and leaving ocean deserts devoid of all life,” she said.

McCabe also criticised the Liberals’ commitment to rescind designated offshore wind zones, which she says has already had consequences. She pointed to BlueFloat pausing its project in the Illawarra, while companies Equinor and Oceanex have yet to accept the federal government’s feasibility licence offer for the Novocastrian Wind project in Newcastle.

“The Greens are taking an evidence-based approach to understanding the potential impact of offshore wind on birdlife and marine ecosystems. That’s why we support this feasibility licence – without it, we won’t have the data needed to assess the real effects on seabirds and migrating whales,” McCabe explained. “We need government, community, and industry to work together to ensure offshore wind has minimal impacts on wildlife while generating the renewable energy our region needs.”

She warned that if offshore wind projects were abandoned, the only alternative would be more land-based renewables, which bring their own challenges, including land-use conflicts. Additionally, land-based wind energy is often less powerful and reliable compared to offshore wind.

McCabe also highlighted the opportunity for local workers, stating that 70% of coal-fired power plant workers already have the skills to transition into wind energy jobs. She stressed that the industry must be based in Newcastle because the massive offshore turbines cannot be easily transported.

“Since Equinor and Oceanex have expressed hesitation about proceeding with a feasibility licence, no one has stepped up to give them the political confidence to move forward. I’m getting out my megaphone to make this abundantly clear: a vote for the Greens is a vote in support of the offshore wind industry,” she said.