Deep in coal country, a lifelong environmentalist and one-time Greens candidate is feeling the applause.His message is a simple one; he believes a wave of new windfarm developments threatens to smash hilltops and turn koala habitat into "industrial zones".
"Wind's a really important source of new electricity generation," says Simon Corbell, who's just stepped down as CEO of the Clean Energy Investor Group. An audience member urges Steven to look into whether there really is a link between carbon dioxide and changes in the climate.Nowakowski allows the comment to remain unchallenged, saying he's "not going to talk about climate change", but does later concede it is a concern."My information, my photographs, my love of nature could be weaponised against the rollout of renewables and decarbonisation.
The meetings also provide Boyce with an opportunity to push a topic he's passionate about. Once Nowakowski's presentation ends the Federal MP polls the audience: Should the federal government be having an "open discussion" about nuclear power?found large-scale nuclear power in Australia would be around twice as expensive as renewables and would take a minimum 15 years to build.
This is the uncomfortable truth in the battle to build windfarms — the fine line between fighting for nature and wanting to see a more rapid decarbonisation of the economy by building large renewables projects. In an attempt to show unity, 14 environmental groups today released a joint letter pledging support for renewable energy, but warning individual projects can't come at the expense of plants, animals, oceans or forests.
In February, the federal government proposed this spot – set back at least 20 kilometres from the coastline — as one of Australia's six offshore wind zones. Shepherd does not believe her scepticism towards climate change needs to be disclosed as part of her opposition to the offshore windfarm.