$4b billion VNI Interconnector delayed 2 years, facing mass farmer protests

By Jo Nova

Foiled — Coal plants are closing (in theory) in Australia, but all the cheap, free, wind and solar power needs hideously expensive high voltage towers, which aren’t going to be built in time, or maybe ever. Last week the AEMO officially announced there would be a two year delay, throwing a spanner in the transition timeline. Coal plants like Yallourn, are supposed to be closing in 2028, but the Victoria-NSW-Interconnector (VNI) won’t be ready until 2030 now.

It doesn’t matter how much wind or sun falls on outback plains if there is no cable to connect them. The renewables-unreliable industry is worthless without these large pieces of infrastructure, which the farmers detest, and the industry can’t possibly afford to pay for itself.

The organization of the farmers in Victoria is just inspirational — all the paddocks marked in red are the areas farmers have refused access to the VNI project. Give these people a medal.

The Australian

‘We’ll fight them at the gate’: Vic farmers vow to step up fight against VNI West transmission project.

By Christine Middap, The Australian

And now, as the Victorian ­government presses ahead with legislation […]

via JoNova

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July 11, 2025 at 11:23PM

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