The City of Ballarat has welcomed the Australian Energy Market Operator’s announcement today that Mondo, a division of AusNet Services, has been selected to design and implement a once in a generation investment into the energy network in Ballarat and Western Victoria.
“Today’s announcement enables the already substantial new energy industry in the region to expand and flourish, Ballarat Mayor, Cr Ben Taylor said.
“As a city proud of its large-scale food and industrial manufacturing for the employment and economic benefits it brings, we are particularly exposed to interruptions in electricity supply which can result in major costs and risks to business.”
“The fact that sizeable amounts of wind and solar energy is currently restricted every year due to the limitations of the present transmission system in Western Victoria is also of huge concern – that’s clean renewable energy that is currently not being used by households and businesses, Cr Taylor said.
“We can’t ignore the benefits that strengthening the Western Victorian transmission network will bring the region’s businesses and residents. An improved capacity of the network will attract more new businesses to the region, while also helping keep energy prices affordable to households and businesses.”
Cr Taylor said it would also facilitate further expansion of new energy generation in the region, including wind and solar generation as well as emerging clean energy technologies such as hydrogen
