Category: Planning approval process

#NSWpol, Anti-wind farm campaigning, Coal Seam Gas, community support for windfarms, Fossil Fuels, gas vs renewables, NSW, O'Farrell Government, Planning approval process, Policy Watch, Wind EnergyLeave a comment

Policy Watch: NSW govt imposes ‘red tape’ on wind farms

Leigh Ewbank
955395-brad-hazzard
NSW Planning Minister, Brad Hazzard

NSW Planning and Infrastructure Minister Brad Hazzard has directed that nine wind farm projects now be considered as State Significant Developments instead of being dealt with under the Part 3A transitional provisions that are a legacy from Labor’s time in office. This decision effectively places them back in the planning system.

The wind farms affected by the NSW government’s reactionary decision are:

  1. Yass
  2. Crookwell
  3. Liverpool Range
  4. Rugby
  5. Bango
  6. Uungula
  7. Crudine Ridge
  8. Paling Yards
  9. and Rye Park

It seems that NSW has joined the Victorian government in privileging a minority of vocal anti-wind campaigners over the majority of the community, who continue to support renewable energy. The previous planning system struck a sensible balance in decision making.

“The NSW government has sown the seeds of community division by reopening the planning process for these wind farms,” Yes 2 Renewables told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“A noisy minority refuse to accept wind energy and make unsubstantiated claims the technology has health impacts. This decision looks like a capitulation to those elements.” Continue reading “Policy Watch: NSW govt imposes ‘red tape’ on wind farms”

climate change, community support for windfarms, energy efficiency, health impacts, Planning approval process, renewable energy, Renewable technologies, The U.S. and wind energy, United States, Wind Farm Benefits, wind farms1 Comment

Wind Energy In Iowa Cuts 8.4 Million Tons Of Carbon Pollution Per Year

Tsu-Mei Liew

Iowa has been a prime example for the progress of wind energy in the past few years. As this article shows, Iowa’s wind energy benefits extend from being an electricity generator and economic driver, it drastically cuts pollution and benefits the environment. Read on.

Original post by Think Progress. View article here.

Wind energy

Iowa’s hugely successful wind industry isn’t just an economic driver, it’s having a major impact on cutting pollution and saving water. Wind energy generation in Iowa avoids more than 8.4 million metric tons of climate-altering carbon pollution — the equivalent of taking 1.7 million cars off the road, according to a new report released by Environment Iowa.

Additionally, the report found that wind energy saves Iowans nearly 3.8 billion gallons of water per year, enough to meet the needs of over 158,000 people. The U.S. National Drought Monitor shows a significant portion of the state is in moderate to severe drought conditions and has been for several months. Continue reading “Wind Energy In Iowa Cuts 8.4 Million Tons Of Carbon Pollution Per Year”

#SAParli, #SpringSt, Baillieu Government, Napthine Government, Planning approval process, South Australia, VC82, Victorian Coalition, wind farm 'no go' zones, Wind Farm Benefits, Wind workers1 Comment

South Australia gets wind energy jobs as Victoria faces jobs crises

Leigh Ewbank

Screen Shot 2014-02-14 at 10.24.57 AMAustralia’s largest wind farm project has been given the go ahead by the South Australian government just days after Toyota announced its decision to end manufacturing in Victoria.

Victoria now faces a jobs crisis. Jobs created in the wind energy sector would have softened the blow of the declining manufacturing sector. Yet anti-wind farm laws introduced by former Premier Ted Baillieu has prevented new projects in the state.

South Australia’s wind energy sector has been the main beneficiary from Ted Baillieu’s anti-wind farm laws which took effect in 2011. It’s creating jobs while cutting pollution.

Continue reading “South Australia gets wind energy jobs as Victoria faces jobs crises”

#SpringSt, climate change, coal vs renewables, community support for windfarms, Liberal Party, Napthine Government, Planning approval process, renewable energy, turbine set back distance, Uncategorized, victoria, Victorian CoalitionLeave a comment
Hepburn Community Wind Farm, Victoria

Is the Victorian government feeling the heat yet?

Sarah Durrant

Support for renewable energy across Victoria isn’t something that’s restricted to any one sector of our diverse community, it’s embraced by people of all ages and from all walks of life. It’s not an alternative or minority viewpoint, it’s mainstream, … Continue reading Is the Victorian government feeling the heat yet?

Anti-wind farm campaigning, Cherry Tree Range wind farm, Planning approval process, VCAT, Wind Energy Mythbusting, Wind Farm Benefits, wind farm panic, wind farms, wind farms & health6 Comments

Reflections on the Cherry Tree Range wind farm debate

Leigh Ewbank
DSCF5119-300x225
Cherry Tree Range, near Trawool.

The Cherry Tree Rage wind farm approved by VCAT last week sparked a debate about wind energy technology that lasted a year. It’s OK for people to have disagreements about the aesthetics of wind farms in the bush.

For me, wind farms represent the future of our energy system, innovation, an economic lifeline for communities, and action on climate change. Unfortunately, opponents of wind farms grasp at arguments that aren’t supported by evidence in an attempt to bolster their position such as the claim that wind farms cause ill health effects. Continue reading “Reflections on the Cherry Tree Range wind farm debate”

Anti-wind farm campaigning, Cherry Tree Range wind farm, community support for windfarms, Infigen Energy, Mitchell Shire, Planning approval process, Uncategorized, VCAT, victoriaLeave a comment

Cherry Tree wind farm – opportunities that will define

Sarah Durrant

When VCAT handed down its finding for Infigen’s  Cherry Tree Range wind farm at the end of November some Mitchell Shire residents were quick to air their views on the outcome. Last week (on 4th December 2013) the Seymour Telegraph published a two page article about the case, incorporating views from across the spectrum of opinion, including two letters to the editor.

Image: Cherry Tree Range; source: Seymour Telegraph
Image: Cherry Tree Range; source: Seymour Telegraph

Continue reading “Cherry Tree wind farm – opportunities that will define”

Anti-wind farm campaigning, Baillieu Government, Cherry Tree Range wind farm, community support for windfarms, Friends of the Earth, Napthine Government, Planning approval process, VC82, VCAT, Victorian Coalition, Wind Energy Mythbusting, Wind Farm BenefitsLeave a comment

Community group shows support for local wind farm in letter to VCAT

Leigh Ewbank
Infigen Energy are seeking approval to build 16 wind turbines atop Cherry Tree Hill in Trawool, Victoria.
Infigen Energy are seeking approval to build 16 wind turbines atop Cherry Tree Hill in Trawool, Victoria.

In the lead up to the VCAT’s directions hearing on the Cherry Tree Range wind farm proposed for Trawool in central Victoria, the BEAM Mitchell Environment Group has written to VCAT detailing new evidence which bolsters the case that wind energy is clean and safe (The Weekly Times).

The local group hopes VCAT will make a quick determination about the fate of the Cherry Tree wind farm. BEAM President Richard Telford:

“BEAM has closely followed the progress of the VCAT hearing and are encouraged by the very recent findings of the NSW Planning Assessment Commission,” says

“BEAM Mitchell Environment Group remains supportive of the Cherry Tree Wind Farm proposal. BEAM continues to be of the opinion that the benefits to our community far exceed any potential for negative impact.”

“We believe there are merits to determining an outcome as soon as possible.” Continue reading “Community group shows support for local wind farm in letter to VCAT”

Anti-wind farm campaigning, Cherry Tree Range wind farm, community support for windfarms, health impacts, Infigen Energy, Landscape Guardians, Mitchell Shire, Planning approval process, Regional Development, VC82, VCAT, Wind Energy Mythbusting, Wind Farm Benefits, wind farm panic1 Comment

Planning body dismisses anti-wind farm lobby claims. Will VCAT follow suit?

Leigh Ewbank
Trawool
Trawool in Central Victoria, location of a proposed 15 turbine wind farm.

As the VCAT hearings on the Cherry Tree Range wind farm proposal is scheduled to resume at the end of the month (September 27), another Infigen wind farm has received the tick of approval from a planning commission.

The NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) has ruled in favour of the Bodangora wind farm and dismissed health concerns brought to the attention of commissioners by anti-wind farm campaigners–including the likes of Sarah Laurie, who Crikey describes as a “well-known anti-wind farm campaigner.”

The PAC’s approval of the Bodangora wind farm shows that planning authorities base their decisions on credible research, not pseudoscience claiming that wind farms harm human health.

Given that there are 19 reviews by credible health bodies that show wind farms are clean and safe, the PAC’s decision to approve the wind farm is no surprise.

Friends of the Earth would hope VCAT take the ruling of the PAC into account when deciding the fate of the Cherry Tree Range proposal. Continue reading “Planning body dismisses anti-wind farm lobby claims. Will VCAT follow suit?”

Anti-wind farm campaigning, Baillieu Government, Cherry Tree Range wind farm, community support for windfarms, Planning approval process, VC82, VCATLeave a comment

Cherry Tree Range wind farm supporter sets record straight

Leigh Ewbank
Infigen Energy are seeking approval to build 16 wind turbines atop Cherry Tree Hill in Trawool, Victoria.
Infigen Energy are seeking approval to build 16 wind turbines atop Cherry Tree Hill in Trawool, Victoria.

Sarah Durrant is a Kilmore local who is passionate about a wind farm proposal in her region. Durrant was an observer to the first round of VCAT hearings on the Cherry Tree Range wind farm. Here’s a letter to the editor by Durrant, correcting the assertions of wind farm opponents. It was published in the Seymour Telegraph:

When authors (R and L Stephenson , letter to Seymour Telegraph, 14th August 2013) drop the word ‘fact’ into their letter a reader might hope that there’s some truth to be found in the content. Instead, the letter highlighted an ongoing lack of understanding in regard to just what Council’s role has been in the Cherry Tree Wind Farm planning application process.

No, Council did not vote against the Planning Application from Infigen. ‘In fact’ our Councillors didn’t vote on the Application at all! Council purposefully chose not to make a decision. They neither approved nor denied the application and it was this – Council’s ‘failure to determine’ within the requisite 60 days – that forced the matter to VCAT. Thus, the waste of ratepayer money that’s referred to can indeed be said to be as a direct result of Council’s inaction.  Continue reading “Cherry Tree Range wind farm supporter sets record straight”

Bendigo, community owned wind farms, Planning approval process, Regional Development, renewable energy, Victorian Wind Alliance, wind farms2 Comments

Finally! First new wind farm approved under Baillieu’s anti-wind laws

odilegotts

First published on VicWind by Andrew Bray 14/06/2013

Coonooer Bridge
Coonooer Bridge

The Victorian Wind Alliance has today welcomed the approval of a new wind farm project near Bendigo – the first since the Baillieu anti-wind laws were passed.

The Coonooer Bridge wind farm – a small five-turbine project – was approved by the Buloke Shire Council overnight, the first to be approved since former premier Ted Ballieu’s restrictive laws were introduced in 2011. Continue reading “Finally! First new wind farm approved under Baillieu’s anti-wind laws”