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"Since the Waubra wind farm started generating power in 2009, the town has acquired a dubious reputation: the so-called `Waubra Disease' is now known internationally. But how much sense does it make? Whilst there's a small number of complainants among the population of 500, there are also 30 families hosting turbines on their land as well as many turbine neighbours -- including community leaders - who live happily with the turbines. Neil Barrett has been researching the Waubra situation for the past year. Whilst his attempts so far to understand the issues raised by complainants have been unsuccessful, it has become clear to him that the apparent good health and well-being of the turbine hosts and most of their neighbours deserves to be more widely known. "

"We've been witnessing a quiet revolution in the wind turbine field with the unveiling at Geelong, in Victoria, of the first Eco Whisper wind turbine, developed by Queensland based company, Renewable Energy Solutions Australia (RESA). The unveiling in Geelong, yesterday, was particularly significant as the major Victorian regional city is making a big play to become a centre for renewable energy in Australia."

"A GEELONG-BUILT wind turbine which is spruiked as the quietest in the world has been placed at Tullamarine. It is the second commercial installation of the Eco Whisper Turbine, following a pilot demonstration at Geelong manufacturer Austeng's North Geelong plant last October."

"Floating offshore wind turbines could more than meet the electricity demands of the European Union, according to a new report (PDF) from the European Wind Energy Association, first reported by Business Green. In fact, offshore wind turbines could potentially supply over four times the electricity needs of the EU."

"The world's biggest wind turbine manufacturer is joining forces with environmental groups in a global campaign to rouse the "silent majority" of people who support renewable energy to fight back against what it claims is "misinformation" spread by some anti-wind activists that is threatening the industry."

"The Coalition will impose new noise monitoring rules on windfarms that the multibillion dollar industry says will inflict crippling costs, provide no useful information and represent another victory for an anti-noise campaign by concerned citizens backed in part by the climate sceptic lobby."

"It is important to distinguish between genuine local concerns and the increasingly professional anti-wind activists whose strategy seems designed to confuse and inflame the debate on wind energy. In Australia, some anti-wind groups promote bogus science, claiming a litany of medical ailments attributable to turbines. "

"There is no reliable or consistent evidence that proximity to wind farms or wind farm noise directly causes health effects. That's the finding of the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) much-anticipated draft systematic review of the evidence on wind farms and human health, released yesterday. This report takes the number of reviews published on the issue since 2003 to 20. And all have reached the same broad conclusions."

"Over 15 years ago, Melbourne mounted a long-term campaign to change the way it uses energy and has attracted international acclaim for its commitment to sustainability. This has included encouraging bike riding and public transport and improving building efficiency. One notable example of this is the Council House 2 building, Australia's first six-star green star new office design building. Completed in 2006, some of the building's features include recycled water use, automatic windows, sun-tracking facades for shade and roof-mounted wind turbines to draw out hot air."

"THE Victorian Opposition will overturn tough wind farm planning laws introduced by the State Government in 2011 if elected to power. Opposition planning spokesman Brian Tee said if elected next year, the Labor Party would repeal the setback that prevents developers building turbines within 2km of a house without the owner's written consent."