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https://theconversation.com/without-community-support-the-green-energy-transition-will-fail-heres-how-to-get-communities-on-board-225163>
"Connecting cheap, clean energy from renewables comes with a hidden cost and
challenge: building 5,000 kilometres of new transmission lines this decade, and
another 5,000km after that. This sounds like a lot, but 5,000km is only around
10% of the existing grid network, and unlocks more than 32 gigawatts of new
clean energy capacity by 2030.
The problem is, communities are often not sold on having to host new
transmission lines. As the recent review of community engagement by renewable
and transmission companies demonstrates, this is because it wasn’t explained
well to these communities as to why it’s needed and how they can benefit.
We already know uncertainty undermines the social license for big projects. And
we know public engagement is vital in translating national policies into local
impacts.
In my research, I work with RE-Alliance, a community organisation working to
help local communities actually benefit from the energy transition. In the
course of this research, rural residents often say they would like to host wind
turbines on their property. But we have seen those same residents oppose new
transmission line projects – without realising the wind farm will not be viable
without this infrastructure.
When these projects succeed, it’s because developers engage early and often
with communities, showing them why the project matters to society – and to
them.
Projects are much more likely to succeed when communities feel the project is
theirs or includes them."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
