Mr McCormack and Yass Solar Action Group secretary Kylie Davies looking over where ENGIE had planned to develop a solar factory.
Member for Goulburn, Wendy Tuckerman, has welcomed ENGIE’s decision to withdraw its proposal for a large-scale solar factory near Yass and it comes on the back of Federal member for Riverina Michael McCormack’s pleasure that the prized land would not be used as a solar farm.
Mrs Tuckerman said she opposed the location, arguing that the proposed site was located outside of the NSW Government’s designated Renewable Energy Zones and was inconsistent with the strategic growth and character of Yass.
“I want to be clear, I am not opposed to renewable energy,” Mrs Tuckerman said. “But projects must be strategically planned, developed in consultation with communities, and located where they provide genuine benefit without sacrificing the liveability or productivity of our regions.
“The Yass proposal, similar to the Gundary and Merino proposals, would have imposed a significant burden with little corresponding benefit. The location is simply wrong.”
“I have yet to see a proponent explain why regional communities must continue to bear the burden of the cities energy demand, why must we have vast expanses of black solar panels with three-metre-high security fencing be located at the doorstep of our homes, farms, and future housing areas?”
Mrs Tuckerman also criticised the growing trend of renewable energy developers targeting productive regional land instead of focusing on more appro-priate urban solutions.
“These companies are leaning heavily on regional communities to meet government targets and secure subsidies but it’s coming at the expense of agricultural land, housing growth, and amenity in our towns,” she said.
“There are smarter, low-impact alternatives. A study conducted by the Australian National University used Open-StreetMap data and ArcGIS tools to map over 40,000 outdoor car parks across Australia. They estimated that if just 60 per cent of that space were fitted with solar panels, it could account for around 13 per cent of Australia’s total electricity generation. The Yass Solar Action Group, which formed in response to the proposal, also welcomed ENGIE’s decision.
“Like Wendy we are not against renewable energy projects, but strict guidelines are needed to prevent proponents from proposing projects in locations that are clearly inappropriate. This would avoid unnecessary stress and anxiety for neighbouring communities. The Yass Solar Action Group met with Wendy in April 2024 and we thank her for her support and advocacy,” said Kylie Davies, Secretary of the Yass Solar Action Group.
While ENGIE has now withdrawn the solar component of the proposal, they have committed to undertaking a feasibility study for a large-scale battery installation at the site instead.
“I will continue to closely monitor this to ensure community concerns such as fire safety, contamination risks, and the environmental impact are considered,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
Mr McCormack said he had told ENGIE that land designated for the project – less than two kilometres from the Yass post office and targeted for up to 240,000 solar panels – was valuable agricultural country which needed to be retained.
“About 340 hectares of farmland – a footprint larger than the town itself – was earmarked for the project,” Mr McCormack said.
Mr McCormack said the planned site of the solar factory was virtually on the doorstep of some residents, while other people faced the prospect of looking down on a sea of black solar panels and a three-metre high security fence surrounding the solar panels every time they walked out their front or back door.
Mr McCormack listened to the concerns of residents at a meeting at Yass in February and has been making consistent representations on their behalf to ENGIE ever since.
“I was moved by their very real worries, including a loss of views and plummeting property values,” Mr McCormack said.
“I was told at least one property could not be sold because of the solar factory plans, while there were very real fears about safety on Perry Street, a narrow road with a three-tonne load limit which would be used by heavy trucks six days a week for 18 months to two years during construction.
“There were also fears about chemicals used to clean solar panels leaching into creeks on the site and ending up in the nearby Yass River and toxic fumes sweeping over Yass should a fire break out and panels were burnt.”
“I don’t think these many serious concerns could be addressed satisfactorily and told ENGIE so.”
Mr McCormack said ENGIE would now undertake a feasibility study on putting a large-scale battery on the site which would be connected to nearby electricity transmission lines to help secure electricity supply.
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