Renewables report must be released ahead of turbocharged transition

By Steve Mudd posted 23-12-2022 11:22

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Renewables report must be released ahead of turbocharged transition

Key and confronting recommendations in a government report from the NSW Agriculture Commissioner have been put in a drawer while NSW Treasurer and Energy Minister Matt Kean turbocharges his way forward with the renewable energy transition, NSW Farmers says.

Farmers and rural communities know the state’s energy transition is not on-track, NSW Farmers Energy Transition chair Reg Kidd said, and they were seeing divisive conflicts arising from renewable proposals. Mr Kidd said massive solar installations slapped on the state’s best farming land while energy and fuel bills skyrocket was at the core of the conflict.

“The report and recommendations from the NSW Agriculture Commissioner’s Taskforce looking at managing these conflicts are still sitting on government desks – and it’s clear where the blockage is,” Mr Kidd said.

“We know from sources close to this work that the report clearly identifies aspects of the renewable transition that are clearly not on-track!

“The Agriculture Minister has been saying for ages he wanted the report out before Christmas, but this hasn’t happened and regional communities are in the dark while Sydneysiders are fed headlines by the Treasurer and more pledges without plans.”

Mr Kidd said farmers, rural communities and energy consumers deserved to know what the Agriculture Commissioner recommended before anyone hit the turbocharge button on anything.

“The state government intends to turbocharge its renewables transition before they have even shared or responded to the genuine concerns farming communities have raised with the Ag Commissioner,” Mr Kidd said.

“We’re the ones seeing what is and is not working with renewables projects in the bush, and if the government is going to continue to do things to, rather than with rural communities, they will face serious backlash.

“The poor planning decisions and unresolved land use conflicts will inevitably cripple these solar and wind projects and our state’s energy transition, and sadly, this means it won’t just be farmers and rural communities who will be left in the dark in Christmases to come!”

Date: Friday, December 23, 2022
Media Contact: Steve Mudd | 0429 011 690 | mudds@nswfarmers.org.au

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Stan Moore

24-12-2022 21:54

There should be a government requirement for the developers of renewable energy generation projects, both solar and wind, to put an upfront financial commitment for decommissioning and remediation and transfers to new owners of the project, otherwise future generations and tax payers are likely to have to foot the bill. By way of example, the mining industry has these obligations placed on it.

Richard Croft

24-12-2022 00:45

Reg Kidd is well aware of the problems of the "transition" and so are the personal sent out by EnergyCo and DPE to try to sell Kean's ambitions. The problem is that Kean is an urban politician whose electorate is totally in ignorance of the practicality of fulfilling his "dreams" for such they are.
There is a serious risk that reliable and productive land regions will have defunct projects spread all over them.
At several meetings held across regional areas the bureaucrats have been forced to expose the fact that if any of these projects fail (and evidence overseas says they will) the landowner will be the one who has to decommission them at the farms expense, and that includes removing any contaminated material.
Kean wants to be Premier but his ambition is not tempered by listening to anyone in regional areas. He could end up being the Leader of the Opposition instead.
Sorry to those who support the current government I am sorry but Kean is leading them down some wrong paths where it is clear the voters are already dissatisfied with his arrogance and behaviour.
If the government would listen to NSWFA policy it could create huge amounts of energy by supporting farmers and regional communities to produce power where it is suitable and most importantly retain the production, the distribution and the profits in farmers/community hands and on Australia's balance sheet.
There is money to be made from energy production and we should be given the support to make the profits on farms or in communities rather than sending them overseas.
Such profits would also help to drought-proof farms.
This whole subject is already a significant political issue but farmers and communities need to understand urban voters don't have any idea of the consequences of the "teal" push or the "billionaire" dreamers who are taking over the energy debates, a situation we can't allow to happen.
The next month or so will be vital to protect our, and the community's interests so speak up whenever you get the chance, particularly to city people as well as locally.
Just imagine if nuclear is set up where coal power plants are how much money can be saved by hooking up to the current grid, it is already a subject in financial media.
Also just imagine what reduced energy prices will do to wind tower profitability. If you can't get your mind around that there is plenty of evidence in the US - what a mess we would have to live with?
Happy Christmas to all and stand up in the New Year, we will have to I think.

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