A 400-megawatt wind farm in Central Queensland has been given the green light by the Federal Government.
The Mount Hopeful Wind Farm, located 45km south of Rockhampton and 65km west of Gladstone, will feature more than 63 wind turbines.
When completed it is anticipated to produce enough energy to power 240,000 homes.
The Federal Government said the project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 813,000 tonnes per annum, equivalent to taking around 225,000 passenger cars off the road for a year.
The project website said the site was chosen to complement solar generation because wind in the area tended to blow strongly in the evening, when the sun was no longer shining, and when there was typically an increase in energy demand across the electricity network.
“The project is located next to a 275kV high voltage transmission line which ensures the energy can rapidly be exported into the grid,” the website said.
The announcement comes as the Queensland Government surpassed its first emissions reduction target, almost a decade ahead of schedule.
Last week it was revealed the state achieved a 35 percent reduction of emissions in 2022.
The state’s legislated emissions reduction targets are 30 percent by 2030, 75 percent by 2035 and net zero by 2050.
On the same day, the State Government announced the opening of the $1 billion Olive Downs coal mine in Central Queensland.
The Pembroke Resources’ mine, near Moranbah in the Bowen Basin, is expected to produce up to 15 million tonnes of steelmaking coal each year over the next 80 years.
