Antinuclear

Renewable energy is not only a tool to provide clean energy and control the emissions that are changing our climate. It is also a growth industry offering employment and revenue opportunities almost exclusively in regional and rural communities.

For many farming landowners, such as Peter, Leigh and David Watts, of Yeungroon, featured in The Weekly Times last week, lease payments from turbines are a way to drought-proof farms by ensuring ­ongoing income in tough times.

There is enormous potential to grow the partnerships between rural communities and renewable energy providers.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has signalled a new approach to ­renewable energy and this has given businesses such as energy company Acciona the confidence to make major investments in Australia.

Last month, it announced plans to progress the Mt Gellibrand wind farm proposal, which would provide clean power to more than 100,000 households. The project would create more than 100 jobs in the building phase, about 10 ongoing roles, and deliver substantial revenue for the life of the wind farm to landowners, council and the wider community.

Australia’s Renewable Energy Target has generated $18.5 billion of investment and, under the revised target, we expect to see at least ­another $10 billion by 2020.

Today the industry employs more people than the coal-generation ­sector in Australia. With stable policy settings, a clear direction on emissions targets and an understanding that Australia requires a more sophisticated approach to ­energy policy, the renewables sector is well placed to innovate and grow.

Improving technology in the wind sector means we can now generate more electricity from fewer turbines and maintain an income stream for landowners, councils and community organisations in regional and rural communities. It is my hope regional Australia and the renewables sector can grow together.  Andrew Thomson is managing ­director of energy company Acciona