On the first sitting day of the Victorian Parliament for 2014, Yes 2 Renewables supporters gathered on the steps to distribute a Citizens Briefing to politicians. We were joined by members of Darebin Climate Action Now, Yarra Climate Action Now and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.
Government politicians are ill-advised on wind energy. If they advisors can’t get it right then it’s up to citizens to brief them properly. Our briefing debunked the myths surrounding wind energy. Collating research from authoritative energy analysts and public health experts, the Citizens Briefing shows wind energy is clean, safe, and valuable sector to develop in Victoria.
Over three hours we managed to distribute 250 Citizens Briefings to politicians, staffers and journalists. Notable recipients of our briefing include Deputy Premier Peter Ryan, Planning Minister Matthew Guy (the minister responsible for the anti-wind farm laws), Andrew Katos (South Barwon MP), and Clem Newton-Brown (Prahran MP).
Leader of the Victorian Greens Greg Barber dropped by to see what we had on offer for Coalition MPs. Barber is a strong supporter of wind energy so we encouraged him to pass the Citizens Briefing on to Coalition MPs.
Labor’s energy spokesperson Lily D’Ambrosio joined the Yes 2 Renewables crew to discuss options for encouraging community wind farm development and getting Victoria back on track with renewable energy.
Yes 2 Renewables will contact Coalition MPs to see whether our Citizens’ Briefing has encouraged them to reconsider the party’s stance on wind farms. The government’s current position has already cost Victoria jobs, income for farmers, and action on climate change.
Perhaps our briefing will lead to Coalition politicians adopting a more progressive position on renewable energy and wind farms for the 2014 election. Polling shows a massive 71 per cent of Coalition voters supporting more wind farms, so a shift on wind energy would align the party’s position with the views of Coalition voters.
TAKE ACTION:
- Sign our petition calling on Premier Napthine and Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews to scrap Ted Baillieu’s anti-wind farm laws and support renewable energy.
- Volunteer with Yes 2 Renewables and help us build a pro-renewables movement. Only when Victorians are active will the politicians get serious about renewable energy. Email leigh.ewbank [at] foe.org.au for more information.
- Support our work with a tax-deductible donation. Every dollar helps.
- Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
yes2renewables.org 
Hi there,
great work guys! I support you in the Macedon Ranges, as part of the WISE wind energy group.
If it is not copyright, is there a digital copy of the briefing I can distribute in my local area, to local politicians? The one included in the post is not high resolution enough to reproduce A4 size.
Cheers, Mark Horner
Go for it Mark. Yes 2 Renewables are impressed by the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group and the Woodend Integrated Sustainable Energy proposal. We’re glad to have your support.
Thanks Leigh,
Do you have a link for the document?
MH
Australia does not need wind farms. We do need wind turbines, solar panels, solar hot water and sungel batteries. Don’t think in terms of communities think individuals. It’s called stand alone power and when the people of Australia find out wind farms and solar power stations will become obsolete. Why in the world would people pay the man for the use of their power when they don’t have to. Stand alone power is a fairer system for all Aussies. Come on Australia let’s get off the power grid! To find the companies to get you off the grid search online for stand alone power and narrow that search to Australia only. It’s that easy!
Excellent work, Leigh and friends! The briefing and the flyer are great. We will certainly spread the message at our Macedon Ranges Sustainable Living Festival this Saturday (8th 10am-4pm).
It is hard to believe that when the wind farm “ban” was introduced it was “to give the decision back to communities”. But somehow we ended up with a no-go zone without any consultation of the community. We already had our project underway and have measured wind speed for a year. It is more than sufficient. Now all we can do is wait for a change in poilicy (or government).
Again thanks for the good work.
Ralff Thesing – President, Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group