Milestones for Goulburn’s clean energy and shifting climate change attitudes

On the eve of a long-awaited milestone for Goulburn’s community solar farm, an ANU social scientist has revealed a shift in attitudes towards climate change. She says although more people want to see action on climate change, Australians consistently underestimate how much other Australians are concerned about the issue.

Associate professor with the Resources, Environment & Development Group at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, Rebecca Colvin, outlined her findings in an address in Goulburn.

Ms Colvin, who researches contentious issues associated with climate policy and energy transition, was guest speaker at Goulburn Community Energy Co-operative’s (CGEC) annual general meeting. GCEC is about to begin stage two of civic works on its 1.8-megawatt solar farm at North Goulburn and Ms Colvin says the project will reassure people in a community about renewable energy.

“To have a story like the Goulburn story, a shining example of a positive relationship between a regional community and new renewable infrastructure shows you can work with this technology and there can be substantial benefits to communities,” she said.

Ms Colvin presented data on attitudes towards climate change, demonstrating a much broader support for action on climate change and more acceptance of the reality of climate change among Australians than some people may think.

Studies, including one from her colleague Dr Zoe Leviston at the ANU, reveal Australians consistently underestimate how much other Australians care, she said.

“So, we have this idea that most other people aren’t concerned about climate change. And for those who are personally concerned it might feel like they run the risk of outing themselves or setting themselves up as being different from the social circles that they are in if they talk about it,” she said.

Consequently, a topic like climate change isn’t openly discussed, Ms Colvin said. This means people aren’t informed in a way that helps them to be prepared for future impacts or can inform decisions they make in the short term.

She hopes public opinion data makes people feel more confident to talk in a constructive, genuine and friendly way with their friends, neighbours and family about climate change without fearing they are going to the one and only person who cares about ‘this big thing’.

Ms Colvin says she is amazed a community solar project that offers so many benefits is well underway in Goulburn.

“I think there is so much good with what Goulburn Community Energy Co-operative is doing and I would love to see that taken up by as many communities as have the motivation and time and capacity,” she said.

GCEC chair Andrew Bray said now that Goulburn Mulwaree Council had finally awarded the project a construction certificate, they could quickly begin the second stage of civil works and construction of the solar farm itself.

Extraordinary hurdles to this point included an obtuse tax ruling whereby the Australian Tax Office required that tax be paid on grants from any level of government.

“While we are required to pay tax on monies received through our grant from the NSW Government, this tax must be paid prior to any revenue being earned from the operation of the project,” Mr Bray said.

They are now seeking a remedy from the Federal Government.

In many other areas GCEC has made significant progress preparing the 2.5-hectare farm for the unprecedented project near the Sydney-to-Melbourne railway line at North Goulburn.

They are placing orders for infrastructure including a battery, panels and racking and will commission and test the plant. Co-operative members Peter Fraser and Ed Suttle have met regularly with project developers, Komo Energy, the NSW Office of Energy and Climate Change and project coordinator, Premise.

Mr Bray paid tribute to GCEC’s founding secretary and treasurer, Gretchen Alt-Cooper who died in February, for her countless hours of detailed work and meticulous, timely paperwork.

“We have now reached an exciting stage in the Goulburn Solar Farm project, and we are looking forward to the generation of clean, community-owned energy and to deliver returns to members in the near future,” Mr Bray said.