THE region’s largest renewable energy project is still going to be pretty massive, but not quite as big as originally planned.

Latest plans for the Kentbruck Green Energy Hub were on display in Portland, Mount Richmond and Heywood on Wednesday as Neoen Australia, the company behind the project, held a series of community information sessions.

Senior project developer Kristina Yan told the Observer that the number of wind turbines had been reduced from 157 to 116 over about 30km of plantation forest between Mount Richmond and Nelson, which would still see 600MW (down from 900MW) of electricity go through the Heywood Terminal Station.

Proposed turbines had been remover from RAMSAR areas and others where brolgas could have been affected, Ms Yan said.

The project, if approved, can generate up to 2300 GWh of electricity into the national grid each year, equivalent to powering 461,000 homes, with the greenhouse gas savings similar to displacing 2.461 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, removing 741,000 cars from the road or planting 18.8 million trees.

As well as state government agencies – representatives from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning were also at the community sessions – the project is also being considered by the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, including at a native title holders meeting planned for Sunday.

Ms Yan said Neoen also still wanted to hear from others, with future community sessions also planned for Nelson and Gorae West.

“Everything will go on public exhibition eventually but we’re keen to get feedback on things we’re presenting,” she said.