Moneymakers or wildlife killers? Communities at odds over renewables

Ben Potter and Cindy Yin

Feb 5, 2024 – 7.46pm

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Key Points

Why it’s important: Australia needs to ramp up its renewable energy build out to hit climate goals
Context: Approvals delays and community opposition have set back the energy transition
What’s next: The federal opposition wants to make renewables an issue in next year’s federal election

NSW farmers Charlie Prell and Andrew Locke are happy to have steady wind farm revenue to smooth out their farm income through thick years and thin, and bulk up the value of their properties should they decide to sell.

But not all rural folk are so agreeable. On Tuesday, those worried about wedge-tailed eagles, Nangur skinks and Gould’s petrels will join National and One Nation politicians at Parliament House in Canberra for a “National Rally Against Reckless Renewables”.

correction —

The introduction to this story has been altered to correct the spelling of the surname of Andrew Locke, which was misspelt in the original edition.