You’ve probably come across the term NIMBY – the people who say “not in my backyard” when it comes to certain types of development in their neighbourhood.
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But what about the YIMBYs? The people who are saying: “Yes please, put a wind turbine in my backyard”?!
I have met people who trim their hedges to see wind turbines spin around, and nanas who sew turbines into quilts. Communities across Australia are full of YIMBYs.
Wind turbines are powerful symbols of opportunity. The opportunity of new income for a struggling regional area. The opportunity of clean, renewable energy. The opportunity of an ethical, local investment. The opportunity to act on climate change.
Community-owned wind energy projects enable everyday Australians to co-own and directly benefit from wind developments.
In Denmark, Western Australia 116 people – most of whom are locals – built and now run two 800kW turbines. Last year, they received a 9 per cent dividend on their investment, on top of the satisfaction of knowing they supply their town with clean electricity that helps to secure its energy supply. The wind farm pumped $20,000 into local projects, too, ensuring the profits stay in and benefit the community.
Wind farms mean different things to different people like: “a symbol of what our community can achieve together”; “a great investment!”; “much-needed source of grants”; and even: “I use them to check the wind conditions before I head out for a surf”.
Research has shown that people embrace living near wind turbines when they have an opportunity to be genuinely involved in its design, the decision-making process and if they benefit. What other power source can do all of this? YIMBY, please!
Jarra Hicks is co-director of the Community Power Agency and her PhD is on the impacts community-owned clean energy projects have on regional Australia.
