- 89 Degrees East polled 1001 people across energy shift regions
- 70% support clean energy projects on farmland in their community, 17% oppose
- Most don’t realise they’re part of the quiet majority who support clean energy
Some 70% of rural Australians living in renewable energy zones support the energy shift, with only 17% opposed. However, many do not realise they are part of the quiet majority.
These are the findings of polling of Renewable Energy Zones (REZ), and farmer focus group work, carried out by 89 Degrees East and commissioned by Farmers for Climate Action, representing its 8400 farmer members.
Some 1001 people living in renewable energy zones were polled in September/October. The results were:
- 70% support clean energy projects on farmland in their local community, 12% don’t know, 17% oppose
- 73% of those with a connection to farming support clean energy projects on local farmland
- 71% of those polled said farmers who choose to should be allowed to host clean energy on their farms
- Key benefits listed were “bonus” income for farmers; more reliable energy for the local community, and general benefits eg investment in the local economy
- Key concerns listed were any disruption of farming activities; impact on nature
- Some 75% say clean energy operators should pay an energy bill bonus to local households and businesses
- 69% say local communities can benefit from renewables done right
- Only 30% of REZ residents recognise farmers already make very good money from clean energy rent
- Support comes with conditions: community benefit, consultation, access to reliable energy, looking after nature
The key findings from the farmer focus groups, which featured farmers aged between 26 and 67 from every state across Australia, were:
- Clean energy rent is seen as a good way to diversify farm income
- Farmers hope renewables can deliver more reliable energy to them and their communities
- The majority of farmers support “renewables done right” on farmland
- Farmers do not trust developers and called for strong regulation from government on decommissioning
Farmers for Climate Action CEO Natalie Collard said the results showing more than two thirds support and 17% opposition to local clean energy, matched that of a recent Porter Novelli regional poll, the CSIRO survey of 6000+ people, Renewable Energy Zone polling by RE-Alliance, and even the results across the recent NSW council elections.
“The data shows the quiet majority of rural Australia is clearly in favour of clean energy projects locally, although many don’t realise they’re part of the quiet majority,” Ms Collard said.
“Those who don’t support clean energy and those who do have a lot in common – they express the same valid concerns.
“Regional Australia is clearly asking the Government to hold developers to account as they aim to build clean energy projects. Those polled clearly ask for the Government to take charge on decommissioning, even though the vast majority of clean energy contracts already require the operator to decommission the project, and this means decommissioning would be covered by insurance should a company go broke.
“Just 30% of Renewable Energy Zone residents realised farmers do well from renewable energy. With farmers being offered more than $40,000 per turbine per year and $1500 per hectare per year for solar, while they continue to farm cattle around the turbines and sheep under the solar, it’s very good, drought proof money.”
