ACCIONA

The Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Julia Gillard MP today joined José Manuel Entrecanales, Chairman of ACCIONA, senior ACCIONA leadership and other industry and local stakeholders to officially launch the Gunning Wind Farm in New South Wales.

During the ceremony, the Prime Minister rang ACCIONA's national control centre to give the switch on one of the project's 31 turbines, marking the latest completed local project by the world's largest independent (non-utility) renewable energy developer and owner.
José Manuel Entrecanales, ACCIONA's Chairman, who had flown to Australia for the announcement, said ACCIONA was a global leader in renewable energy, water and infrastructure, delivering large-scale projects on time and budget around the world.

Mr. Entrecanales said, "Australia is one of ACCIONA's key strategic growth markets across all our primary activities. It is a pleasure to be here to celebrate the opening of our third wind farm in Australia and 278th in the world - particularly at such a momentous turning point in this country's history."

"ACCIONA congratulates the Australian Government for their announcement of the carbon pricing package and related initiatives to grow renewable energy as a key part of Australia's action on climate change."

Brett Thomas, Group Managing Director Asia-Pacific of ACCIONA, said the Gunning project will deliver significant benefits both locally and further afield.

"ACCIONA has combined its immense global experience and with Australian industry to plan, construct and now operate the Gunning Wind Farm," Mr Thomas said.

ACCIONA has invested $147m in the Gunning Wind Farm, which will deliver enough renewable energy to power 23,250 homes, reducing the region's reliance on fossil fuels and save more than 162,750 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

The Gunning project has established ACCIONA as an active community member in the region, delivering about 100 jobs during construction and a further eight permanent positions for the wind farm's expected 25-year life. The Company will also be lending its support through a Community Benefit Fund to sponsor local activities and deliver tangible benefits to the community.

"The Federal Government set an ambitious target of obtaining 20 per cent of Australia's power from renewable sources by 2020, so projects like the Gunning Wind Farm are critical in working to achieve this," Mr Thomas concluded.

The Gunning Wind Farm is the latest major project delivered by ACCIONA in Australia, with one of the country's largest wind farm at Waubra in Victoria, the Adelaide Desalination Plant and Brisbane's Legacy Way tunnel just some of its recent achievements.

ACCIONA has invested more than $630 million in Australia projects locally since commencing its Australian operations in 2002.