November 1, 2013
Australia

Clean Energy Council unfazed by wind farm snub

ABC News | 1 November 2013 | www.abc.net.au

The Clean Energy Council maintains there is a strong future for wind farms in Queensland.

The Southern Downs Council this week rejected a proposal to erect eight turbines on the Granite Belt, saying it did not suit the area, citing community concerns and effects on rural amenity.

There is also strong opposition from the community to a planned 350-megawatt installation in the South Burnett.

The Clean Energy Council’s Russell Marsh says proponents need to do more to address community concerns about noise pollution.

“One of the things the industry is trying to get better at is talking to the community, taking the community with it and we have examples where wind companies have spent a lot of time engaging with the community and talking to them about the wind farm proposals design of it, where the turbines will be sited and addressing some of the issues that local communities have,” he said.

He says there are plenty of benefits to having wind farms in rural settings.

“We’re seeing lots of examples of farmers in the area saying having wind turbines on their land actually provides them with another source of income that helps protect … their farm when they have bad years with other aspects of their farm business,” he said.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/11/01/clean-energy-council-unfazed-by-wind-farm-snub/