Horizon Power has bought into a Cockburn-based contractor, in the state government’s latest move to extend its reach into the energy industry.
Horizon Power has bought into a Cockburn-based contractor, in the state government’s latest move to extend its reach into the energy industry.
Under the deal, Horizon has taken a half stake in a new entity set up as part of the Western Australian Alternative Energy business group.
Parent company Green to Go was registered in 2011, and is controlled by Simon and Sarah Jane Barclay, according to documents from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
The business employs about 20 people.
Neither the government nor Mr Barclay have not disclosed the deal's price.
The acquisition would help address supply chain issues in the energy sector, the government said in a release.
Those challenges include delivery of equipment and a constrained workforce.
But it stopped short of explaining how buying into a private business would solve these issues.
WAAE worked on Horizon’s Kalumburu hybrid solar project, which was finished in March 2022.
It’s not the first recent move by government entities to expand their influence.
The Water Corporation bought the Flat Rocks stage two wind power development, near Kojonup, from Moonies Hill Energy in November.
The move was a major strategic shift for Water Corp, which has traditionally focused on the water supply, rather than the power grid.
More broadly, the state government has inched its way into private industry over the past six years.
Main Roads revealed in April 2022 it would insource seven maintenance contracts.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA said that decision could increase costs for taxpayers, and reduce road quality.
