VIRYA Energy will start environmental and planning assessments for a 164-wind turbine project with a battery energy storage system near Boort this year.
The company has been criticised for failing to consult with some landholders for its Meering West project.
While a spokesperson told the Loddon Herald last week that there had been consultation with Loddon Shire communities, recent information sessions have been held outside the shire.
“The Virya Energy team has been engaging with Gannawarra and Loddon shires, local residents, businesses, landowners, clubs and community organisations to gather feedback, understand concerns and understand how else the project could benefit the broader community. Engagement with the community is continuing,” the spokesperson said. “Meering West Wind Farm is a different renewable energy project because it is farmer-led.
“In 2021 several landowners in the Meering West area were discussing potential wind turbines with various renewable energy companies. Realising that working with multiple companies could result in fragmented, overlapping projects, the landowners came together to form a group. 
“Their goal was to select a single company to partner with and move forward with a unified development. The group of 25 landowners nominated a committee of four to manage a tender process and invited developers to make submissions. Virya Energy was selected by the landowners following the tender process.”
Meanwhile, opponents of the controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line have released an updated map of  farmers opposed to the projects.
The sea of red is densest around Charlton, Wycheproof, St Arnaud and Birchip with little resistance recorded in the Boort and Wedderburn districts.
Opponents say 600,000 hectares are marked as farmers against being in a renewable energy zone and uwilling to host renewable energy technology or infrastructure including wind or solar farms, batteries and  new transmission lines.
Transmission Company Victoria held consultation sessions along the VNI West route earlier this year and is expected to resume community engagement shortly.
The VNI West environmental effects study has also started, assessing environmental and community impacts.