This interview by the ABC of a WA cattle and crop farmer who hosts 15 wind turbines caught the eye over the weekend .
Bruce Garratt, who lives south of Geraldton, in WA’s mid north, decided to host the turbines on his 1,000 hectare property 15 years ago. They are part of Alinta’s Walkaway wind farm – the first privately built wind farm in the state.
“People tell me how noisy they are, people tell me how they affect your health,” Garratt told the ABC in an interview aired on the local 7.30 Report.
“I’ve had lots of people tell me different things that honestly, unless they have lived on a wind farm, they don’t really know what they are talking about.”
He said the turbines provided an additional passive income, as well as a sense of purpose.
“No-one in their right mind could put up an argument and say that wind turbines aren’t of benefit,” he said.
“They’re not producing C02.”
Mr Garratt is critical of the recent Warburton review that recommended either closing the Renewable Energy Target (RET) to new entrants or scaling it back.
The RET was set up to ensure that 41,000 gigawatt hours of Australia’s electricity, at least 20 per cent, would be generated by renewables by 2020.
Garratt believes the Government should commit to the existing scheme.
“We had 36 degrees in the middle of April,” he said. “Now that’s unheard of. I’ve been here for 30 years and I’ve never seen wheat die, ever, until this year.
“No-one can tell me that global warming is not happening. I think renewables are coming in and it’s going to be a hard fight to stop them.”
