It appears that the NSW Government’s is intending to increase restrictions on the development of wind farms across NSW.
In the context of the current review by the Planning Assessment Commission and recent negative remarks about wind power and the Renewable Energy Target by Premier Barry O’Farrell, it’s a concern that additional obstacles will be placed in the path of wind power development in NSW, such as a 2km buffer zone, or similar mandatory setbacks which would lock out many of the most suitable areas for wind farms.
Existing planning criteria in NSW include some of the strictest wind farm noise regulations in the world. Numerous scientific studies undertaken over the last decade on the health impacts of wind farms in Europe, North America and Australia find no grounds for supporting the claims of the anti-wind power lobby.
Renewable energy offers NSW billions of dollars in investment opportunities over the next several years, along with thousands of new jobs. The industry is already providing hundreds of jobs and great economic benefits to many regional centres.
Wind energy is already delivering significant social, economic and environmental benefits to rural and regional communities in Europe and North America, as well as a steadily growing percentage of their electricity needs. Wind power is the cleanest and cheapest renewable energy source currently available in Australia. With more than 10,000 MW of wind projects in NSW either approved or pending approval, any legislative changes which further restrict the expansion of the renewable energy industry in NSW means committing the State to further expansion of coal seam gas and coal mining, with all of the environmental costs and community opposition which they entail
Polling consistently shows that the majority of people living in regional NSW support renewable energy – despite a high profile campaign by a small minority against wind farms.
WRITE TO THE PREMIER AND NSW MPs, IN SUPPORT OF WIND POWER.
CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: www.yes2renewables.org
