Regions want power bill support from energy developers

Voters in regional Australia want energy bill subsidies from clean energy projects and developers held to account for the long-term impact of projects built on agricultural land.

Farmers are being offered more than $40,000 per turbine per year and $1500 per hectare per year for solar, while they continue to farm cattle around the turbines and sheep under the solar.

Regardless of opposition or support for renewables, polling released on Tuesday found common concerns about what happened if a project went broke part way through construction and who would pay for the clean-up when assets were decommissioned.

Some 70 per cent supported clean energy projects on farmland in their community and 17 per cent were opposed.

But that support came with conditions, including proper consultation and better access to reliable energy.

Overall, the results showed most people were part of a "quiet majority" who supported the shift to renewable energy, Farmers for Climate Action chief executive Natalie Collard said.

Three-quarters of those surveyed said renewable energy operators should pay a power bill bonus to local households and businesses, according to the polling commissioned by the grassroots organisation on behalf of its 8400 farmer members.

Some existing "neighbour benefit schemes" include reduced electricity bills for nearby homes via rooftop solar installations, bill subsidies or energy efficiency upgrades.

The Pines Wind Farm near Oberon in NSW, for example, is offering electricity bill credits to more than 2000 households in the Triangle Flat, Bald Ridge, Abercrombie River and the Oberon local government area.

The survey found farmers tended to distrust developers and called for strong regulations from governments on decommissioning.

"Those polled clearly ask for the government to take charge on decommissioning, even though the vast majority of clean energy contracts already require the operator to decommission the project," Ms Collard said.

"This means decommissioning would be covered by insurance should a company go broke."

Earning rent from leasing land for clean energy generation was viewed as a good way to get another income stream to "drought-proof" the property.

Other possible benefits included more reliable energy for the local community and investment in the local economy, while key concerns included any disruption of farming activities and the impact on nature.

Less than a third (30 per cent) of residents in renewable energy zones recognised farmers already made very good money from clean energy rent.

Some 1001 people living in renewable energy zones were polled in September/October by consultancy 89 Degrees East.