A plan to put a mandatory barrier between homes and new wind projects could put tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in regional investment at risk, according to a new Clean Energy Council model.
Analysis, provided for age, estimates Victoria’s Liberal and Citizens policy of two-kilometre rollbacks would put $3.9 billion in local wages and more than $200 million in landowner and community payments at risk over the next decade.
The future of the state’s renewable energy projects is emerging as a key battleground ahead of the November election, particularly in western farming communities, where landowners are pushing back against the rapid expansion of wind, solar and battery projects.
Under current planning laws, wind turbines must be at least one kilometer from existing homes unless residents give written consent for them to be nearby. But the Coalition has promised to restore the Baillieu-era policy and extend the restriction to two kilometers and extend it to all regional power projects.
It says the plan will provide more protection and certainty for residents living near renewable sites.
However, a Clean Energy Council analysis found the two-fold rollback would eliminate about 70 percent of the land currently available for wind energy projects and put the pipeline of projects at risk.
It also found that much of the remaining land had been subdivided and would be disconnected from existing distribution infrastructure, making development very difficult.
According to the council, which is Australia’s largest renewable lobby group and represents about 1000 companies involved in the sector, renewable projects in Victoria are expected to generate 26,000 jobs by 2035, mostly in short-term construction and installation roles in the regions.
Ahead of the state election, the Coalition has sought to capitalize on growing anger from regional areas, where there has been strong opposition from farming communities who argue it is inappropriate to take much of Victoria’s energy transition on farmland.
As part of its analysis, the council compared the Union’s retroactive policy with policies in other jurisdictions and found the deal would give Victoria some of the most restrictive reorganization laws in Australia.
In NSW, the state implements a setback of between one and 2.2 kilometres, depending on the height of the turbines, while South Australia implements a setback of between 1.5 and two kilometres.
The council said comparable restrictions in Europe – including in the German state of Bavaria, where a two-kilometre buffer was implemented – crippled local industry.
As well as vowing to roll back wind farms, the Alliance has promised to give regional communities more input into projects in their areas, and has committed to building urban solar energy reserves in metropolitan areas.
The union said it would also halt and review the controversial Victoria-to-NSW West and Western Renewables Link projects that would carry electricity from new renewable projects to homes and businesses.
Opposition spokesman David Davis said the expanded buffer zone would reduce the impact on the community and bring more equality.
“We are committed to halting and reviewing long distance cable projects to ensure value for money and cost benefit analysis to protect consumers from Labour’s rising electricity bills,” he said.
“Our balanced approach will ensure proper protection for the country’s communities, the restoration of basic democratic rights while keeping control of energy infrastructure costs that are ultimately paid by struggling families and small businesses struggling under higher Labor taxes.”
Davis also said urban solar parks in industrial and commercial areas across Melbourne, which would integrate rooftop solar panels and battery storage close to high energy demand, were ripe for opportunity.
“With many hectares of roof space available on warehouses and factories, these areas have the potential to generate and store large amounts of electricity, helping power homes and businesses while reducing pressure on the national grid,” he said.
Clean Energy Council chief executive Jackie Trad – a former Queensland deputy premier and Labor MP – said the proposed rollback policy risked undermining Victoria’s future energy security, as well as regional investment.
“Victoria needs new electricity generation to replace rapidly deteriorating power stations and maintain reliable supply to homes, businesses and industries,” Trad said.
“A setback of two kilometers would push Victoria’s development pipeline and therefore, any reliable way to meet future energy needs.”
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