Australia betwixt wind farms and solar energy

by Rachel Carbonell

Now that Russia has decided to sign the Kyoto protocol, Australia's commitment to reduce greenhouse gasses is again under pressure.
But it isn't just the Australian Government's refusal to ratify the protocol that's drawing criticism. Australia's domestic plans to increase renewable energy are under threat from increasing public resistance to wind farms, especially in Victoria. Many people living on the Victoria coast are now convinced that solar power is a better option.

Rachel Carbonell: Under the Federal Government's mandatory renewable energy targets, 2 % of the nation's electricity should come from renewable sources by 2010. Green groups would prefer that figure to be higher, but even reaching 2 % could be a challenge.
So far three wind farms have been built in Victoria, but many more are proposed, particularly in South Gippsland where there is stiff opposition from many local residents. Les Osborne initially welcomed plans for a wind farm next door to his house near the town of Toora. Now the turbines have been constructed he has a different view.

Les Osborne: Well, I welcomed them because they told me they weren't going to be noisy and they actually lied to me. So, I was under a misconception that they were going to be good. But they're not, they're evil.

Rachel Carbonell: I can hear them sort of swooshing in the background. Is that as noisy as they ever get?

Les Osborne: No, that's actually quite quiet... because we have an easterly and the noise is being blown away from us. Usually it comes from the southwest or northwest, and that's when I can’t sleep at night.

Rachel Carbonell: How noisy is it?

Les Osborne: I liken it to living... having my bed on Tullamarine tarmac when a jet plane's coming in.

Rachel Carbonell: Les Osborne says selling up and moving isn't a viable option.
Les Osborne: I bought... when I bought this place it was my paradise, and now that big company from Queensland's come along and made it horrible... and they don'tlose any sleep. According to the local real estate agents, my property's devalued by $ 100,000.

Rachel Carbonell: The company that runs the 12 turbine farm, Stanwell Corporation, declined to be interviewed, and instead issued a statement:
Stanwell Corporation statement: Independent experts and noise level monitoring have verified that the Toora Wind Farm is fully compliant with its operating permit conditions.

Rachel Carbonell: Locals are concerned about the visual effect on the landscape, the danger to bird populations, and what will happen to the turbines when they're past their use by date. Another concern is the efficiency of wind farms.
British Botanist, Professor David Bellamy, drew on the English experience as an example during a quick trip to Gippsland.

David Bellamy: 1,134 wind turbines last year produced less than one 27th of the electricity that leaks off the grid.

Rachel Carbonell: But President of the Australian Wind Energy Association, Ian Lloyd Bessan, says Professor Bellamyhas got it wrong.

Ian Lloyd Bessan: The efficiency of a wind turbine converting wind into electricity is significantly higher than the efficiency of a coal fired power station converting coal to electricity.
And of course one of the significant facts about wind energy is that a wind turbine actually repays all the energy that went into its manufacture -- including the smelting of the steel -- within six months of operation.

Rachel Carbonell: The wind industry has been criticised for being sneaky about its plans, dividing communities and not addressing community concerns.

Ian Lloyd Bessam says historically some wind developments haven't set a good example, but the industry is working to improve planning and consultation.