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Wednesday, April 17, 2024

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Wednesday, April 17, 2024
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Mixed Greens: Liberal MP wants compensation for wind farms

Staff Reporter
17

Taylor wages war on wind farms

Newly elected Liberal MP Angus Taylor, a noted anti-wind campaigner, has called for landowners near wind farms to be compensated for presumed property devaluations. His comments to the Goulburn Post follow the publication of a study which claimed some properties had suffered valuation falls of up to 60 per cent because of wind farms. “These losses in real estate value completely overwhelm the small amounts of financial assistance being offered by developers to local communities living near the turbines. It’s yet another reason why we have to review the large subsidies going to this industry,” Taylor told the newspaper. The research report, which was given a big splash in the AFR, has been criticised for its narrow focus on two properties. A previous study published by the NSW valuer general in 2009 could find no evidence of a link between the presence of wind farms and a decrease in property values.

Media training for clean-techies

The Department of Industry is running free media training workshops for small businesses operating in the clean tech industry over the next two days in Sydney and Melbourne. The workshops will provide information on how to use PR, social media, content marketing, online marketing and website marketing in a cost effective way. Interest people can click here to RSVP.
Bids narrow for NSW coal assets
The Australian Financial Review reports that AGL Energy and China’s Shenhua Group have firmed up as the lead contenders for Macquarie Generation, the largest NSW power producer, although bids are likely to fall short of the $2.1 billion book value. Other possible bidders include Queensland-based ERM Power and

 Thai-controlled RATCH-Australia, partly owned by Transfield Services, and a potential second power industry player from China.

MacGen produces about a quarter of NSW’s electricity and includes the

Bayswater and Liddell plants in the Hunter Valley,. However, the sale is facing a weak electricity market, with subdued prices and declining demand, although plans to repeal the carbon price and rising gas prices could favour coal-fired generation.

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Comments

17 responses to “Mixed Greens: Liberal MP wants compensation for wind farms”

  1. Ian Garradd Avatar
    Ian Garradd

    What about compensation to all the landholders near coal mines, and those who suffer from the effects of increased Co2- ie everybody and most creatures on the planet.

    1. John P Avatar
      John P

      Exactly.
      I live near a wind farm and it presents no problems.
      In selecting this site I made sure it was not down wind of any coal mine.
      I wonder if Mr Taylor’s government is prepared to have an enquiry into the health effects of coal dust!
      Perhaps he is just pushing the standard Liberal party fetish that opposes renewable energy in the interests of “business as usual’.

      1. Ian Garradd Avatar
        Ian Garradd

        I just sent a letter to that Mr Taylor clown – Hi Angus,
        I am very concerned for the well being for the many thousands of people living near coal mines.
        The reason, that coal mines produce major amounts of damaging dust.
        Furthermore, you are no doubt aware of the very ugly site associated sith an open cut coal mine.

        And what is even more, From many a house throughout rural Australia there is the very ugly sight of a coal fired power station. belching out steam, and invisible carbon dioxide.
        OF course it is the damaging carbon dioxide which imperils the vast majority of living creatures on earth.

        I trust that you are going to compensate all the people I speak of.

        Wind farms on the other hand offer a very pleasant sight, somewhat akin to the way sailing boats respond elegantly to the wind for power.
        No need to compensate landholders for wind turbines, many people love the sight of them and love what they do.

        1. George Papadopoulos Avatar
          George Papadopoulos

          “many people love the sight of them and love what they do”…
          particularly when they get paid to host wind turbines and earn enough income to spend the rest of their year on holidays…
          Meanwhile their neighbours stay behind and put up with the noisy but “lovely” looking bits of industrial machinery

  2. Laurie Kidd Avatar
    Laurie Kidd

    How about compensation for those living near coal powered power stations

    1. George Papadopoulos Avatar
      George Papadopoulos

      Yeah, why not compensate those living near coal facilities? But Angus Taylor is an electorate with plenty of CSG wells and wind turbines popping everywhere like mushrooms.

  3. Bob_Wallace Avatar
    Bob_Wallace

    Would this extend to other projects which land owners perceive lower their property value?

    If the scenic farm behind someone’s house is turned into a housing project, shopping center or school should the property owner be compensated?

    How about if a new road is built that crosses someone’s scenic view? Or a forest harvested?

    Could I get paid if someone builds next to me and I have to listen to their lawn mower?

    1. fellow_from_Illinois Avatar
      fellow_from_Illinois

      Hi Bob,
      I would bet if your neighbor let his dog bark all night long….month after month…you would have called the police to lodge complaints. Or if they were mowing their lawn at 3 a.m. when you and your kids were trying to sleep, to get rested for the next day.
      But if your neighbor claimed that dog was serving a useful purpose by scaring away the boogie man, then maybe you should just tolerate it for the “greater good” of all those who fear the boogie man…right?
      Now, imagine a whole kennel of such dogs, who never shut up. What is your property worth to you or any prospective buyer?
      I’ll bet you could even reassure your buyer with a copy of an AKC study that says there is no statistical significance to the level of lost sleep for homeowners living by an open air, all night kennel. Especially if they measured sleep loss 10 miles away from 100 families versus the two by the kennel who cannot be mathematically significant against such a large background.
      And I know people who make their living training or grooming dogs would find it a pleasant sight to see them running free, by the dozens, even if they surrounded your home and disturbed your family. But would YOU?
      Welcome to the adapted world of “wind-spin!”

      1. Bob_Wallace Avatar
        Bob_Wallace

        You actually fell for that anti-wind propaganda, didn’t you?

        1. George Papadopoulos Avatar
          George Papadopoulos

          Bob, the “fellow from Illinois” much unlike yourself is a victim of common sense. Should he and most of society depart from common sense, then we will find that the installation of wind turbines lead to the dramatic increase in property prices in neighbouring properties.

  4. fellow_from_Illinois Avatar
    fellow_from_Illinois

    If a “coal farm” surrounds homes then they should be bought out to prevent the conflict caused by open-air industrial uses for residential uses. Same with a “nuclear park”, despite their graceful and pleasant cloud formations dispersed from the cooling towers.
    And if homes are surrounded by a 24/7 airport, would anyone expect that those homeowners should just stay put for any reason other than they can’t sell, to escape the noise impacts and conflicts with normal use of a home (i.e., sleeping)?
    I can’t imagine any of the other commenters willingly buying a house in the middle of any overlaid industrial area, as is represented by dozens or a hundred 40 story structures with all-night loudspeakers projecting noise into the bedrooms, and with flashing lights that obliterate the enjoyment of a calm clear night sky.
    The facts are clear: Buyers avoid such properties, and when they can be sold it is only after a huge discount. Much like any other “problem” property.

    1. Bob_Wallace Avatar
      Bob_Wallace

      The facts do seem to be clear. However they’re entirely different than what you imagine them to be….

      “Lawrence Berkeley analyzed more than 50,000 home sales near 67 wind
      farms in nine states. All the homes were within 10 miles of wind
      turbines and about 1,100 were within one mile. They studied the impact
      on home values during all phases: immediately after a wind farm was
      announced; during the time leading up to its installation; and after
      construction.

      They found no statistical evidence that wind turbines cause home values to decline.”

      http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/25170

      1. George Papadopoulos Avatar
        George Papadopoulos

        Bob, and these homes, in the Berkeley study, were up to 16km away from wind turbines. And developers tend to place wind turbines in rural areas because putting them along streets or in suburban backyards is a little expensive… so most homes in this study wouldn’t be within 1-2km of wind turbines, and still most homes wouldn’t be within 5km of wind turbines. So let’s call the Berkeley study a grand waste of money flushed down the toilet. The only value of the Berkeley study was publicity for wind developers, and confusion for the public.

        1. Bob_Wallace Avatar
          Bob_Wallace

          “about 1,100 were within one mile”

          You are one dishonest dude, George. I have no idea why Giles puts up with your “stuff”.

          1. George Papadopoulos Avatar
            George Papadopoulos

            and the other 36000 or so, were where?

          2. Bob_Wallace Avatar
            Bob_Wallace

            What the hell does it matter?

            Whatever research finds that doesn’t fit your fantasy you will simply discard.

          3. George Papadopoulos Avatar
            George Papadopoulos

            I can see Bob that statistical analysis and its relevance to specific property values is not your forte. Why not then simply accept what Reardon finds in his report: that property values close to wind turbines can be impacted by up to 60%.

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