Renewable Energy Policy: A Local Government Perspective

1. Renewable Energy Policy: A Local Government Perspective Alison Johnson for PEC624: Dissertation.

2. Overview of presentation • Background for research focus/idea • Aims & objectives • Methodology • Results summary • Interpretation of results/ analysis • Recommendations • Limitations & areas for further research

4. 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

5. Research problem • Planning policy could inform the development of technical regulatory framework for assessing renewable energy applications • Feedback suggested planning systems are inherently slow to adapt to change • Those councils that increased flexibility to new technologies could benefit from new development opportunities e.g. telecommunications infrastructure

6. 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?.

7. 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

8. Methodology • Rational Comprehensive (RC) policy approach: • barriers identified – survey of councils planning staff and an energy profile on a case study council; • aims established – desktop study of renewable energy resource potential, electricity mix and State policy goals; and • potential solutions developed – literature review on best practice models.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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...

12. Cover letter to General Managers.

13. Information Sheet

14. Survey Form

15. Consent Form

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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?

23. 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.