Opposing sides of an increasingly bitter wind farm debate will rally in Canberra today, with supporters gathering in the city and opponents at Parliament House.
Wind farms bring billions of dollars in new investment to regional areas according to their supporters, but households are being slugged with higher power bills, according to opponents.
Crookwell grazier Charlie Prell, who wants to host wind turbines, said opponents were wealthy, well-connected landholders who did not want to look at the turbines.
‘To be honest, we need to stand up and fight for what we believe in,’ Mr Prell said.
He is a spokesman for NSW Regional Renewables Alliance, a group of 70 landholders and regional businesses, and said the rally in Garema Place at noon would be supported by various groups, including chief organisers Friends of the Earth and the online activist group GetUp! Action for Australia.
In a statement Mr Prell said the Renewable Energy Target had generated $18.5 billion over 12 years and reduced electricity prices by 8 per cent.
Alliance member, Goulburn earthmoving contractor Andy Divall said the RET was making a big difference in regional NSW.
‘In the 25 years we have been in business we haven’t seen anything like the opportunities the renewables industry will bring to the region,’ he said.
What a specious argument … ‘opponents to wind turbines are wealthy, well-connected landholders who did not want to look at the turbines.”
I guess that excludes opponents who do due diligence and question the value of these raptor and bat killing monstrosities that drive people in their vicinity out of the area.
Anyone who thinks of living within 2m of a turbine should try it for a weekend and see how they sleep and feel. Nothing to do with being well-connected or wealthy at all.