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Our Correspondent

Madurai, Nov. 9 Withdraw the new charges levied on wind farms and offer better prices for wind power produced by them, the Tamilnadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged.

Terming the new charges levied on wind farms under the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board circular dated December 11, 2007 as ‘abnormal’ and pointing out that they have been comparatively offered low prices for the power produced by them, the chamber has said these would have a negative impact on the growth of wind power generation in the State.

In a statement here, chamber President, Mr S. Jeyabalan, said prospective entrepreneurs feeling discouraged would move away to other States. The stipulation to pay a sum of Rs 50,000 for entering into an agreement with TNEB by persons setting up wind farms and the scheduling and system operating charges ranging from Rs 55,298 to Rs 3,64,964 a year based on the capacity of wind turbines together with a relatively low purchase price, did not augur well for augmenting wind power generation in Tamil Nadu — especially at a time while the state is reeling under the impact of unprecedented power shortage.

The purchase price for a unit of power by TNEB is just Rs 2.90, while in Karnataka it is Rs 3.40, in Andhra Pradesh Rs 3.50 and West Bengal Rs 4.00, he pointed out.

Speaking further, he said that unlike conventional power plants, the gestation period at the maximum is around six months on installation of a wind turbine to generate power. At this critical juncture, it should be the endeavour of the State Government to accord top priority for maximisation of wind power by offer of utmost concessions and congenial ambience for the existing and prospective entrepreneurs in wind power production, he added.

The matter has been taken up by the chamber with the Chairman of TNEB and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission, to stress on the need to exempt wind farms from payment of the new charges levied from December 11, 2007 and to offer better prices for power produced by them, he mentioned.

More Stories on : Non-conventional Energy | Tamil Nadu

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