Queensland Axes $1 billion Wind Farm! Trump-Style Policy move?

Queensland Axes $1 billion Wind Farm!

Backlash From the Community Causes it to Shut Down

The proposed Moonlight Range Wind Farm─a Greenleaf Renewables’ flagship renewable energy project—which was to produce up to 450 megawatts of electricity to power over 260,000 homes annually. It was set to comprise 88 wind turbines and a battery energy storage facility over 24 land lots near Morinish, 40 km west Rockhampton. The project said it would create 300 jobs during construction and 10 permanent jobs once operational.

But after getting the green light from the State Assessment and Referral Agency in December 2024, the project took a brutal turn when Mr. Bleijie “called in” the development for re-evaluation in January. More than 500 public submissions were posted during a two-month consultation period, 142 of them by local residents, and 88% opposed the wind farm.

Issues mentioned: Housing, Environment and Risk of Fire

The main sticking points were the pressure it would place on the local accommodation market with 300 construction workers in town, a lack of consultation with the community, potential environmental damage and an increased risk of bushfires. Those concerns were critical.

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Jarrod Pieter Bleijie, Deputy Premier of Queensland

Renewable energy projects should require community support in the same way as for other industries such as mining and agriculture,” Mr. Bleijie said. “If a community wants these projects to happen, they’re going to happen. But 88 per cent of locals did not want the Moonlight Range Wind Farm to continue on.”

A Change of Policy — or a Retreat?

The cancellation highlights what Bleijie referred to as a “new approach” to energy development that requires renewable projects to meet the same high hurdles as other industries. This change has been greeted with concern by renewables supporters who are concerned that it may undermine investment and slow progress towards Australia’s clean energy aspirations.

But for local residents and some landholders, it’s a win for local voices. John Ellrott, whose cattle ranch comes up to the Moonlight Range, said he felt relieved. “The Moonlight Range has some very significant flora and fauna that needs protecting. We don’t need every range blanketed in wind towers.”

LNP Member for Mirani Glen Kelly said the announcement was “great news” and a win for Rockhampton region communities. “The communities have to have some say on these projects… Happy days for the people who’ve been working hard to block this.”

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Glen Kelly MP , Member for Mirani

No Appeals Allowed

The minister’s determination determines the Moonlight Range Wind Farm’s future and cannot be appealed under the Planning Act.

Moonlight Range Wind Farm

The Moonlight Range Wind Farm was set to be a major milestone in Queensland’s transition to a cleaner, greener energy system. With the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan in its corner, the state has set targets of 70% renewable energy by 2032 and 80% by 2035 which are essential if we are to slash emissions and ensure that Queensland’s future energy is sustainable.

“There has already been more than $11 billion invested in renewables in Queensland since 2015 with 54 large-scale projects which support almost 8,700 construction jobs. The state is also a leader in rooftop solar, installed on more than 10,000MW, which helped push renewable energy to 27% of the grid.

Australia is on a national push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% of 2005 levels by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050, with a focus on providing a clean electricity supply.

So What Now for Renewable Queensland?

The cancellation has fueled a larger discussion: Should local opposition be able to thwart large-scale renewable energy projects critical to fighting climate change? Or is consent of the community an important brake in an age of fast-paced energy transformation?

As Queensland contemplates where it goes from here, the Moonlight Range saga is a salutary reminder that green energy is not just about wind turbines and megawatts — it is also about people, place and policy.

But Australia’s energy policy aims to transform to a clean, secure and affordable energy system, with the aim of increasing renewable energy sources and reducing emissions. In light of this, the 2025 Australian election was a traditional battle for green energy sources against dirty energy. The Moonlight Range Wind Farm is more than the loss of a wind farm, it is a sign of the times and a sign of climate policies and community engagement that remain disconnected. In Australia’s net-zero push, every renewable project counts.

And now is when we need to be keeping informed, speaking up and standing up for smart, sustainable energy solutions. If you’re a policy maker, investor or simply want to make the world a better place, your voice has influence to drive the future of Australia’s energy.

Join us as we continue to cover the progress on renewable energy projects in the US.

Read More : Could 10 Environmental Groups’ Lawsuit Overturn Trump Offshore Wind Policy?

2025 Australian Election—Labor Party Clean Energy Mandate Begins

2025 Australian Election, Labor Party Clean Energy Mandate Begins

Australia (WindNewsToday) — 2025 Australian election sent a strong message: a majority of Australians support a rapid transition to renewable energy, particularly offshore wind. The re-election of the Labor Party (ALP) was largely driven by national support for climate action and clean energy progress.

In contrast, the Coalition has been heavily campaigning against Labor’s energy platform, which promises to scrap four of the six offshore wind zones already declared. Despite targeting key seats in New South Wales and launching community campaigns to galvanize opposition, the strategy has not resonated. In fact, the ALP’s two-party preference vote has increased in many of the seats where offshore wind has been hotly contested. The Australian federal election is a stark example of how climate change could change the landscape of voting.

Offshore wind and Clean energy: the irresistible plan

Labor’s first term success has already put Australia on a path to a clean energy future, with 40% of the national electricity grid now powered by renewables and storage. Interestingly, when Australians return to the polls, the grid will be powered by more than two-thirds of renewables – marking an irreversible shift towards cleaner energy.

party’s energy transition plan, offshore wind, is now enjoying stronger political support than ever before. Environmentalists and industry stakeholders are urging the government to capitalize on its renewed mandate by fast-tracking offshore wind development and maintaining the pace of regulatory and infrastructure support.

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‘Labor is the party of opportunity’

Today The PRIME MINISTER, ANTHONY ALBANESE talked to the SKY NEWS for first after the winning and started his conversation about his party as a party of opportunity. He sees the challenge of seizing the economic transformation opportunities that come from the National Climate Agreement, which he says is part of the deal. He says it is a project that we have not backed down from, it is a project that we have relied on. So, the project in Newcastle, Tomago, the Hunter’s largest employer, the Rio Tinto aluminum smelter, and so their conversion to clean energy, which will be so important with the strong capacity there

And he calls on the community that the campaign pushed the offshore wind project further offshore to come along and see a good environmental outcome from offshore wind power.

2025 Australian Election: Nuclear rejects, climate voters rise

This 2025 election was a vote for green, clean and renewable energy as the Coalition’s support for nuclear power has failed to gain traction. Instead, it has proven politically toxic – particularly among women and undecided voters. Meanwhile, despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures, climate concern remains a top-level issue for much of the population.

And young voters, whom we refer to as Generation Z (Gen Z) have played a key role. Three-quarters of Millennials and Z voters ranked climate change among their top voting issues. This climate-conscious voting bloc has become the largest demographic group in Australian politics and is shaping the country’s political landscape with increasing influence.

Climate-friendly independent candidates performed incredibly in the election, where they increased their primary vote by 3.8% in contested seats, continuing the trend from the 2022 election. Incumbent independents retained their inner-city strongholds, suggesting a long-term shift in voter behavior. Meanwhile, the Australian Greens are expected to hold onto the balance of power in the Senate – a strategic advantage that could enable the ALP to pass strong climate legislation in its second term.

Labor Party: Climate action is a mandate

The ALP now has a 17-point lead over the Coalition as the party is most trusted to “tack on climate change”. For Labor voters, climate change was one of the top two election issues, further reinforcing that environmental leadership is not just a marginal concern – it is a central mandate.

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pro-renewable energy community group Good for the Gong

The re-elected Labor government is under increasing pressure to accelerate the development of Australia’s offshore wind industry, following the election result, which saw public support for the country’s massive renewable energy transition. The message from voters was clear. Sophie Walter, a spokeswoman for the pro-renewable energy community group Good for the Gong, said Australians had shown strong support for offshore wind.

“Now that the election is over, we will be pushing the government to move quickly,” she said, “but also to ensure that these projects are developed in a way that is sustainable.”

The election is over, we will be pushing the government to move

Ty Christopher, director of the Energy Futures Network at the University of Wollongong, welcomed the continuity brought by the Labor Party’s re-election, saying it provided much-needed certainty for renewable energy investors. While he acknowledged that there were legitimate concerns about the technology and environmental impact of offshore wind, he stressed that investor confidence depended on policy stability.

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Ty Christopher, Photo: LinkedIn

All investors want certainty,”

Christopher said, comparing the situation in the US under the Trump administration to what he described as a period of instability and uncertainty in the renewables sector.

“We have to acknowledge that the elephant in the room here is that Trump’s behavior in the US has created so much instability and uncertainty that it has scared a lot of global capital away from the US,” he said.

Christopher noted that this shift in investor sentiment could present a major opportunity for Australia. “What a great thing for Australia, for that global capital to find a home here and help us decarbonize our lives, decarbonize our industry and become a global powerhouse in renewable energy.”

Lastly, the 2025 election was not just a policy contest – it was a national referendum on climate action. Australians voted decisively for a future driven by clean energy, offshore wind and environmental leadership. With the political winds at their back, the ALP and its climate allies now have both the opportunity and the responsibility to accelerate clean energy transition of the country .