Australia's old industrial heartland could be powered reliably by new offshore wind as the Hunter region joins the race with international backers.
Consultation opened on Thursday for a new offshore wind industry in the Pacific Ocean off Australia's eastern coast, just days after the energy market regulator warned of a shortfall without urgent investment in new assets.
Although the Gippsland zone off Victoria's La Trobe Valley is expected to be the first region in Australia to power up, the Hunter region in NSW is one of six priority regions around the country with world-class offshore wind potential.
