Renewables: Farmers part of push for Senate Inquiry into renewables rollout

Regional communities are taking their fight against the rollout of large-scale renewable energy projects to Canberra.

Growing concerns about the rollout of renewable energy projects across regional Australia will be taken to the steps of Parliament House in Canberra next week.

A long list of 40-plus speakers, mostly Coalition MPs including former National Party leader Barnaby Joyce and Senators Matt Canavan and Jacinta Price, will take part in the “reckless renewables rollout” rally coinciding with the first sitting day of parliament for 2024.

The National Rational Energy Network is organising the rally and represents farmers pushing back against solar, wind and battery projects on prime agricultural land and coastal residents opposed to offshore wind ventures.

The creation of huge solar farms in regional Australia is angering farmers and other residents. Picture: Supplied

NREN chairman Grant Piper lives at Coolah in the NSW Central West and three years ago discovered a major wind project was planned 4km from his home.

He said the former Berejiklian NSW government’s creation of Renewable Energy Zones “tipped us over the edge”.

“No one asked us whether we wanted to be in a ‘REZ’,” he said.

“There was very little publicity or discussion prior.

“The whole process is on the nose. The consultation is a farce.”

The NREN is calling on the federal government to “rapidly establish” a Senate Inquiry to examine and report on the technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the Australian Energy Market Operator’s road map for renewables rollout, the Integrated System Plan.

Also, a request that all states cease all wind, solar, hydro and associated transmission construction until the Senate Inquiry reports.

“We have to make Canberra aware there is a problem and hopefully they can do something at their end,” Mr Piper said.

Former National Party leader Barnaby Joyce will be one of more than 40 speakers at the “reckless renewables rollout” rally in Canberra next week. Picture: Martin Ollman

Mr Joyce said he backed rally organisers bringing their fight to the national capital.

“You can jump up and down in your local halls or you can jump up and down in front of parliament,” he said.

“I can tell you which one works.

“I have been on this case for over a year and can say you have to have the anger to get to Canberra.

“Wind factories and solar factories are the swindle of this century that you are the casualty of.

“The power price goes through the roof, the reliability goes through the floor and the money goes overseas.

“Do you really think those overseas companies are driven by environmental concerns or an easy buck?”

Victorian MP Helen Haines has called on Chris Bowen to release findings of a review into consultation for renewable energy projects. Picture: Martin Ollman

Meanwhile, Victorian independent federal MP Helen Haines has urged Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen to release findings of a review into public consultation for renewable energy projects and their associated infrastructure.

“Regional communities deserve to be consulted early and meaningfully when energy infrastructure projects are being built in their communities,” she said.

“Farmers, landowners and concerned community members in Indi have shared with me their disappointment and frustration with the lack of information and inadequate consultation by renewable energy companies seeking to develop in their communities.

“I made sure the review considered issues important to our communities, such as the impact of energy infrastructure projects on agricultural land, fire risks and emergency management, and increases in landholder insurance premiums.

“I also guaranteed that the review examined benefit-sharing opportunities such as local jobs, training, and co-investing in large-scale projects for regional communities.”