Wow. 1300MW on 1039 Hectares? 1.25KW/hA at nameplate capacity. I see they expect 30% capacity factor, that takes the 1300MW down to 390MW.

Also there is this in the a submission -

"Without subsidies to renewable energy, Pottinger and other such facilities would not be
developed, hence as products in a competitive market, they cannot bring increased wealth.
Subsidies have steadily risen since their original introduction over 20 years ago and now
nationally amount to some $16 billion a year. They comprise:
• the subsidy equivalent of requirements on energy retailers to incorporate designated
renewable sources within their supply mix,
• direct purchases by the government – at premium prices - of these energy sources,
• direct taxpayer funded subsidies (which in NSW amount to $386 million a year in
addition to those paid by the Commonwealth), and
• requirements on consumers to reimburse the additional costs of transmission lines like
the South West Renewable Energy Zone, which are needed because of the dispersed
and less dense supply of wind and solar"

https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-06/Pottinger%20Wind%20Farm%...

Ansd who will pay the subsidies, ultimately? I will leave that for you to decide.

And in other news -

"Wind farms are still considered a symbol of “green energy”. But their actual impact on soil erosion, vegetation and biodiversity shows a different picture. The mining of petroleum remains indispensable for every single turbine, and the disposal of the gigantic rotors is still unclear to this day. In addition, there is a massive intervention in nature: areas lose fertility, habitats disappear, species decline. Hardly any other form of energy production thus fully interferes with existing ecosystems.

Removal of valuable mother earth

The construction of wind turbines entails considerable soil damage. Already for the construction of access roads, between 24 and 274 tons of earth per hectare are removed and transported away every year (Ling & Linehan, 2003). A single turbine causes additional losses of up to 263 tonnes per year. In total, this means around 500 tonnes of valuable mother earth, which is withdrawn from the natural cycle. This loss weakens vegetation, increases soil erosion and reduces biodiversity.
Wind turbines threaten biodiversity - soil erosion of mother earth and insect deaths prove massive consequences for nature and ecosystemsWind turbines threaten biodiversity – soil erosion of mother earth and insect deaths prove massive consequences for nature and ecosystems

The remaining soil also shows significant changes. Studies show a rapid decline in phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and organic carbon (Zhang et al., 2024). At the same time, the water content decreases. With the impoverishment of the soils, the balance of local ecosystems breaks down. Even useful soil organisms such as nematodes disappear to a great extent. Researchers summarize this as a cascade of ecological consequences (Cui et al., 2025).
Destruction chain of vegetation and biodiversity

Forests and hedge areas in particular suffer greatly from the wind turbines. The microfauna in these habitats is shrinking much more than in open grasslands (Schöll & Nopp-Mayr, 2021). But even where the damage is less, it remains significant. Vegetation grows only to a limited extent, plants no longer reach the height and density of undisturbed areas. This intensifies the death of insects, which in turn puts a strain on the circulation of soil and mother earth.

A Chinese research group has studied this relationship in detail. There are ten large wind farms in the steppe of Ningxia. One of them served as a study area for soil, vegetation and insects. At first glance, the landscape looks barren and little sensitive. Yet the grassland with species like Leymus Secalinus and Stipa breviflora forms a fragile but stable community.
Research results from Ningxia

The scientists collected over 13,000 insects in their research period, spread over 138 species. The analysis shows clearly: With increasing density of the turbines, both the number and the diversity of insects decrease. The death of insects is thus closely linked to the change of soil and vegetation.

The building destroys the soil structure, cuts habitats and hinders the regeneration of vegetation. During operation, the chemical properties of the soil change. The pH level increases while nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus and moisture decrease. This shrinks the nutrient resources for plants, which in turn leads to weaker growth. Insects lose their food base, and soil erosion accelerates.

Indirect effects as the main cause

The researchers describe this mechanism as a “chain of destruction.” Wind turbines affect soils, which in turn affect plants, and in the end the biodiversity suffers. The decline is particularly dramatic in areas with legumes, where plant height and density correlate strongly with the shrinkage of nutrients.

The extent of the problem shows that such damage occurs in a seemingly resilient steppe region of all places. If massive losses occur even in barren landscapes, the consequences are even more serious in more species-rich areas. Birds, bats and other animals that rely on insects are under additional pressure.
International studies prove risks

The research results from Ningxia are not alone. Further work shows that wind turbines cause far-reaching disruptions. Thus, the visual presence of the turbines impairs the mating behavior of animals (Zhang et al., 2021). Noise and electromagnetic radiation interfere with reproduction and orientation (Tougaard et al., 2020 ; Norro et al., 2013). The construction itself destroys vegetation and triggers chain reactions that continue to higher trophic levels.

While many studies have so far focused on birds, bats or marine animals, insects have only recently come into focus. But they are a central element of functioning ecosystems. Their decline is affecting agriculture, biodiversity and natural cycles alike."

https://blackout-news.de/aktuelles/windkraftanlagen-die-unterschaetzte-zerstoeru...

Translated from the German.

But, but they are supposed to be so good for the environment, except the birds and marine species.