Renewable Energy Policy: A Local Government

Perspective

Alison Johnson for PEC624: Dissertation.

Overview of presentation

• Background for research focus/idea

• Aims & objectives

• Methodology

• Results summary

• Interpretation of results/ analysis

• Recommendations

• Limitations & areas for further research

Source: the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT).

Available at: http://www.lgat.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Local_Govt_Area_A4_map

.pdf

Research problem

o Planning policy could inform the development of technical regulatory framework for assessing renewable energy applications

o Feedback suggested planning systems are inherently slow to adapt to change

o Those councils that increased flexibility to new technologies could benefit from new development opportunities e.g. telecommunications infrastructure

Aims & Objectives

• What potential barriers exist for renewable energy technologies through planning assessment processes from a Tasmanian local government perspective?; and

• What tools can Tasmanian local governments utilise to increase support for appropriate renewable energy applications through planning?.

Scope

This thesis covered:

• Tasmanian specific solutions

• Local government responses in particular

• Planning not building or Australian Standards

• ‘sustainable’ renewable energy not politically sensitive old growth forest use for biomass

• Electricity generation not heat or fuels for transport

• Commercial availability not research and development demo projects

Methodology

• Rational Comprehensive (RC) policy approach:

1.barriers identified – survey of councils planning staff and an energy profile on a case study council;

2.aims established – desktop study of renewable energy resource potential, electricity mix and State policy goals; and

3.potential solutions developed – literature review on best practice models.

Case Study Information

• Desktop study of local renewable energy resource;

• Council planning database provided no. of applications and type since 2005

• The REC Registry provided an indicative indication of renewable energy penetration in the State electricity mix

• Recorded RE generation and projected future demand figures

• Current planning scheme assessment processes outlined

Case Study Results/Analysis

• diverse variety of local renewable energy resources though relative comparisons difficult

• quantity renewable energy potentially very large with solar energy = ¼ Tasmania residential electricity consumption

• 1/3 of all energy needs is Tasmania come form renewable sources and 68% of electricity, 100% long way to go

• General environmental /social impact provisions are currently used to assess RE applications

Survey Design

• Gathered qualitative and quantitative data on council planning staff experiences assessing renewable energy applications

• Murdoch University Human Ethics Committee approval received on 20 August 2010

• Endorsed by the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority Regional(STCA), Climate Change Initiative (RCCI) on 5 May 2010

• Postal survey ‘information pack’ sent to all 12 Southern Tasmanian councils included the following...

Cover letter to General Managers.

Information Sheet

Survey Form

Consent Form

Key Survey Results

• A participation rate of 67% (8 out of 12 Southern Tasmanian councils);

• 38% of respondents not confident providing renewable energy advice to potential applicants and 25% did not respond;

• State Government most relied upon to make changes necessary to reduce barriers for renewable energy applications at a local government level.

• 62% agreed lack of policy support to be most important barrier, followed by lack of info and lack of planning scheme criteria

• Approx. a third of respondents disagreed applications were assessed consistently or appropriately

Survey Analysis

• Perceived inappropriate and inconsistent assessments for the local renewable energy industry clearly problematic

• State, local, Federal Governments’ highlighted as having a key role in finding solutions i.e. developing policy is a good start

• Qualitative survey results & quantitative comments all support the provision of further information/guidelines

Literature Review

• Planning measures at all levels of government in the U.K and Australia

• Measures grouped into the use of four main governing tools:

• leadership – strategies & policies;• authority – regulatory requirements;• enabling – guidance information/promote

awareness; and• provision – financial incentives such as waive ring

planning fees.

Lit. Review Results & Gaps

• U.K best practice approach uses a combination of policy tools(info regulatory etc) for optimal energy planning

• In Australia lack of policy, strategy, educational guidelines and regulatory frameworks for all renewable energy technologies

• Appears to be ad hoc response to community perceptions of risk

• Any Federal and state measures appear to be large scale wind orientated

Key findings

• Lack of explicit education, policy and regulatory tools for all sustainable RE technologies at all levels of government in Australia

• Survey highlighted institutional & social barriers at a local government level;

• Small no. and limited diversity of renewable energy applications not conducive with key aim of “100% renewable energy State”

• Councils play a key role positively supporting the appropriate installation of renewable energy electricity generation systems in local communities

Recommendations

• Essentially do what the U.K has done; coordinate the use of education, policy and regulatory tools through:

• Strong Strategy• Clear Policy• Increased Information• Explicit Regulation• Increased Education & Awareness Raising

Limitations & further research

• further local renewable energy resource mapping to identify opportunities & constraints;

• The effectiveness of planning exemptions to reduce barriers remains unassessed;

• Responsibility for technical operation & accountability for inactive technologies = public perception issues?

Questions?

Yes , Tasmania can be progressive.

Local government can also be progressive.

And yes planning barriers are only one type of a significant range of barriers the renewable energy industry faces as a whole, but it still appears necessary to change the situation.