The news that Spanish energy company BlueFloat bailed on its $10 billion Gippsland offshore wind proposal, has triggered a chorus of people (mostly anti-offshore wind proponents) heralding the end of the industry before it's even begun.

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Although I don't know about the particulars of BlueFloat's exact situation, which also impacted plans for the Illawarra, as an offshore wind consultant I do know a lot about the process of getting these projects up generally.

That's why I can confidently say this actually is just the beginning.

This is a new industry for Australia and whenever you do something new for the first time it's like making a pancake, the first one is never quite perfect.

Energy-intensive industries like minerals mining and metals manufacturing will be the big winners from offshore wind.

There is a reason these industries are co-located with coal-fired power stations historically, and why the offshore wind zones have been designated in these same regions - Gippsland, Illawarra,........

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