RESPONSES TO THE RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE RANGELANDS SURVEY, AND NEXT STEPS

July 31, 2024

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Gabriel Crowley (University of Adelaide) on behalf of the Australian Rangelands Society Council.  Email: gay.crowley@adelaide.edu.au

 

Renewable energy generation is an emerging opportunity and challenge in the Australian rangelands. In the April edition of the Range Management Newsletter (https://austrangesoc.com.au/renewable-energy-projects-in-the-australian-rangelands-what-role-for-the-australian-rangeland-society/), member’s opinions were sought about this, as well as about what role the Australian Rangeland Society should play. This article describes the survey results, and explores the next steps.

We received 26 responses, 25 from ARS members. This represents around 11% of current membership of ARS. Ten respondents described themselves as rangeland residents, and the same numbers as extension/education professionals and researchers (Figure 1). Around one third of each group were (or had been) government employees. The next most numerous responses were from people involved in the agricultural and/or pastoral industries and from retirees. Conservation was represented by seven respondents, five of whom also identified with the agricultural/pastoral sector. We received no responses from Traditional Owners.

 

Figure 1. Sectoral representation of people who responded to the renewable energy in the rangelands survey.

 

The vast majority of respondents supported the transition to renewable energy (Figure 2a). However, one member saw no place for landscape-scale renewables, and believed that fossil fuel would always be more economical. One stressed the need to combine renewables with reduced energy consumption; another wanted to ensure the transition was managed in a way that did not threaten energy security. Even the member who objected to landscape-scale projects saw the benefit of renewable energy to power remote homesteads.

 

Figure 2. Support for renewable energy.

 

Solar was the most popular form of renewable energy applicable to the rangelands, closely followed by wind (Figure 2b). Just under half supported hydroelectricity. Other forms that were mentioned included geothermal, biomass, wave and tidal. One member even posited for nuclear energy. Hydrogen was only mentioned by two members, but is an energy carrier, rather than a source, so the question was probably badly framed. Two responses mentioned the benefits of diversification where multiple land uses could be balanced. One raised the benefits to national security and regional development.

Almost everyone recognised the benefits of renewable energy for economic advancement, infrastructure development, employment and climate change mitigation (Figure 3a). However, they also recognised that renewable energy projects come with issues (Figure 3b). Greatest concern was expressed with regard to biodiversity and scenic values. Half of respondents were concerned about impacts on production, and there was more concern about ground water resources, than on water availability per se. Other issues raised included the high level of government subsidies needed to make renewable energy economically viable. Concern was also expressed that energy policy is currently based on politics, rather than science; that renewable energy projects are not receiving the same level of environmental and socio-economic scrutiny as other developments; and that community engagement is lacking. One respondent was particularly concerned about the energy costs embedded in the construction of renewable energy infrastructure.

 

Figure 3. Benefits and issues of renewable energy projects in the rangelands survey.

 

Most survey respondents saw a role for ARS in the renewable energy arena (Figure 4a). The greatest support was for information sharing, either to members through the newsletter (81%) or to the general public (54%). There was also strong support for ARS advocating for environmental and cultural (77%) and socio-economic (73%) processes and outcomes. Only 42% of respondents thought that ARS should advocate for or against individual projects. (Figure 4b). One respondent also considered that ARS should “take leadership role in embracing renewables as legitimate and beneficial rangeland land uses”, and another that the expertise of ARS members should be made available “to project planners so they can plan projects reducing environmental footprint”.

 

Figure 4. Role of the Australian Rangeland Society in relation to renewable energy projects.

 

Most respondents considered that the information-sharing and advocacy role of ARS related to all renewable energy projects in the rangelands (Figure 4b). Half considered that it also applied to associated mining and infrastructure projects. Three considered that only projects that exceeded 110 km², or 5% of a bioregion or subregion were of concern to ARS. One respondent indicated that, where a bioregional threshold was used, it should include all energy, infrastructure and mining developments.

In summary, this survey indicated a high level of support for renewable energy. There was comfort with the major sources of wind and solar energy as a landscape-scale land use in the rangelands, as long as projects were deemed compatible with other land uses. Economic and climate-change benefits were recognised, but the potential for adverse impacts on biodiversity and scenic values was a concern. There was a desire that renewable energy projects undertake best-practice engagement, and be subject to the same levels environmental and socioeconomic scrutiny as all other developments. ARS clearly has a role in both information sharing and advocacy for best-practice project approval processes.

From this survey, ARS has identified a range of activities it could undertake that align with these opinions, and wants to test these with the broader membership. This includes some of the individual suggestions made by respondents that are compatible with the majority view.

Suggested activities include:

• Regular updates on renewable energy projects and developments in the rangelands to be presented in the online Range Management Newsletter.
• Articles in “Range Management Newsletter” exploring the pros and cons of the transition to renewable energy.
• A special issue of the Rangeland Journal on renewable energy projects in the rangelands, covering technology, policy, costs and benefits, engagement and assessment processes, and the scope of current project proposals.
• Sessions of the ARS biennial conference dedicated to renewable energy projects in the rangelands, covering technology, policy, costs and benefits, engagement and assessment processes, and the scope of current project proposals.
• A register of ARS members with expertise regarding social, cultural, biodiversity and/or economic assessment and management as a resource for renewable energy project proponents and special interest groups.
• Regularly canvas the opinion of the ARS membership regarding the position ARS should take on specific issues relating to developments in the renewable energy arena.
• Media and social media promotion of any position taken by the Council, based on membership feedback.
• Partnering with organisations where an alignment of position has been identified in relation to specific aspects of renewable energy or specific renewable energy projects.

We now invite the membership to indicate their support or objection to ARS undertaking each of these activities by providing feedback directly to me (gay.crowley@adelaide.edu.au). The Council will prioritise actions based on your feedback, and outline an action plan that is within the capacity of the organisation.

As before, we will compile your feedback and report back to you through the Range Management Newsletter.