- FCA welcomes the new report from the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and partners.
- Report reinforces that the energy shift can and must be done in a nature-friendly way
- Clean energy makes farmland more profitable so it's important it's done right
Farmers for Climate Action (FCA), representing more than 8,400 farmer members, has welcomed a report from the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and its partners. The report, Our Renewable Future: A Plan for People and Nature, reinforces that renewables done right benefit nature, regional communities, and farmers.
ACF's joint report urges governments to protect nature during the shift to clean energy. It recommends updating laws, policies, and investments to ensure all infrastructure projects protect and restore biodiversity.
FCA CEO Natalie Collard said the report built on research done by FCA last year. "Clean energy and policies founded in future-proofing farming rewards farmers, their communities and the environment on which their farms depend," Ms Collard said.
ACF's joint report outlines a number of recommendations:
- The renewables industry must responsibly situate projects, ensuring adequate buffer zones and avoiding environmentally sensitive areas like national parks, wetlands, and habitats for endangered species.
- Net gains for biodiversity should be delivered back into the communities where projects are located.
- The renewables industry must actively foster collaboration between rural communities, businesses, and governments for sustainable outcomes to people and the environment.
- The report notes important case studies focused on reducing bird strike with clean energy infrastructure, including IdentiFlight in use on Cattle Hill Tasmania.
"A smooth clean energy shift is good to nature and good to regional communities," said Ms Collard.
"In particular, the recommendation of directly involving regional communities and landowners in decision-making by setting up Local Energy Hubs is one we've advocated for some time now, and countering misinformation is important too."
ACF's report references the FCA Billions in the Bush report, produced in collaboration with the Clean Energy Council in October 2024. The report highlighted the $7 billion in direct payments from clean energy companies to landholders between 2024 and 2050 for hosting clean energy on farms. ACF's report also supports FCA's findings from our Quiet Majority polling, which revealed 71% support and 17% opposition to local clean energy on local farmland. This evidence is matched by a recent Porter Novelli regional poll, the CSIRO survey of 6000+ people, Renewable Energy Zone polling by RE-Alliance, and even the results across NSW council elections.
"The data shows the quiet majority of rural Australia is clearly in favour of clean energy projects locally," said Ms Collard. "It's time that the policy makers pay attention.
"This report is additional proof that strong policy based on research and fact can result in futures where everyone can benefit. We can't afford to lose the billions of dollars in drought-proof income which farmers are making from the clean energy shift, so it has to be done right."
FCA's election campaign has the following election asks:
- Ensure farmers are able to use the energy they generate across their whole property, including across different property titles.
- Upgrade local poles and wires.
- Deliver support for batteries for all farmers.
