Myth # 5 Renewables will Cost Jobs and Destroy Rural Communities
FACT: With adequate preparation, the transition from coal to renewables does not have to be brutal as the case studies below show. Renewable Energy already employs some 30,000 workers around Australia and this number is expected to continue growing, whereas that in coal mining and coal -fired generation is expected to decline in line with commitments made by some 60 countries to end the use of coal by 2030. The benefits are not only environmental, but because they are less polluting, bring health benefits as well. Around Australia some 16 large Battery projects are currently either being completed or in the process of development.
Just Transitions
When last coal mine in Germany's Ruhr District closed* in 2018, not a single one of its 3,000 workers lost their job. The writing had been on the wall for Germany's coal industry since the 1980s when it became cheaper to import coal than dig deeper and deeper shafts so government, management, unions and workers had ample time to prepare.
Universities, technical schools and research facilities were built to train workers for highly paid jobs in engineering, technology and business. Over eleven years there were staggered closures. Older workers were given generous retirement packages and younger workers were retrained or redeployed. New industries were established - two of the world's leading wind turbine makers are located here, and considerable sums were spent on new infrastructure, sporting, cultural and recreational activities, including tourism.
[Yes, I know one of the coal -fired power stations had to be temporarily reopened because of the loss of Russian gas due to the war in Ukraine, but it is scheduled to close again in 2027 if all goes to plan].
Two Case Studies
1. The Hazelwood Power Station Shutdown (2017)
When the French owner of Victoria’s Hazelwood coal -fired power station (Victoria) unexpectedly shut it down in March 2017, it still employed about 750 people, comprising roughly 450 direct employees and 300 contractors.
Many of its employees had been with the company and in the same close-knit community for generations and it was left to the state government to pick up the pieces. It invested $AUD 266 m and with a further $AUD 46 m from its Federal counterpart, it set about rebuilding the local economy and creating new opportunities for displaced workers largely following a plan developed by the European Commission in 2007, “Knowledge for Growth” but adapted to local conditions.
The first step was the creation of the Latrobe Valley Authority which spanned the three communities involved. Recognising that in long -established, one -industry towns, the loss of that industry wasn’t just about finding new jobs for workers, but involved the whole community, it brought together university researchers, workers, unions, government agencies, suppliers, businesses and their families and began to conduct a number of community forums to find out what the region really wanted and needed. Some residents participated in study tours to Germany and the Netherlands to see how they were managing similar transitions.
The Workers
A Government Hub was established to provide support services to affected workers – financial and emotional, along with education and training. The Morwell Hi Tech Precinct was established in collaboration with Federation University. Gippsland Technical School and Latrobe University created specialist industry education courses in areas such as construction and allied health and community services and is developing training for the EV industry. Interest free and low interest loans were available to those starting new businesses. An Energy Jobs and Investment Program brought new industries and partnerships. Several wind farm projects are in various stages of development.
With the average age of employees at 57, many chose the generous retirement package and around 130 employees found immediate, if not permanent employment in the extensive rehabilitation project, designed as it was to ensure that subsequent plantings would be adapted to a warming climate.
Through The Worker Transfer Scheme managed by unions, around 90 workers found work in other power stations or other industries. Those who did not want to leave the area provided energy upgrades to 1000 homes of low -income households. By the end of 2019, 74% had found work or were not looking for any and the unemployment rate for the region was slightly lower than that of Melbourne and lower than it was prior to the shutdown. In a survey conducted at the time, some workers complained that their new jobs weren't as secure or highly paid. Among those who had taken early retirement there were complaints of having lost their sense of purpose.
Although it wasn’t perfect, with delays in executing some projects due to COVID and budgetary constraints, the experience offers valuable lessons for transitioning to a new post -coal future. A longer period of notice would have helped.
The Towns
The towns benefited through the acquisition of new industries, sporting facilities, education facilities and a number of projects which brought the arts, education, entertainment and more tourists. Their populations were also boosted by an influx of government employees including Parks personnel, health and community workers and training providers, along with those connected to new services such as maintenance, surveying and monitoring.
The inclusion of the Arts was an important step because it not only brought tourists to the region, nurtured local talent and gave it greater cultural richness, but helped to fill the void left in a community whose whole existence had previously revolved mainly around work. Another excellent idea was the pairing of schools with their counterparts overseas for student exchanges. This will help students to gain a broader outlook, a wider appreciation of other cultures and could become a catalyst for new ideas.
2. Collie (Western Australia) 2027
Power stations scheduled to close now have an advantage because they are gearing up ahead of closure and are constructing new facilities before the original power stations cease operations. Take the he township of Collie in Western Australia for example, which has been mining coal since 1898. Of its 9,000 residents about 4,000 are employed in coal mining and power generation. It already has its big battery up and running and is turning itself into a renewable energy hub before its power station closes in 2027.
Because of its proximity to the distribution network, new industries will be located there. The WA Government has committed over $662 million to Collie’s transition, including industrial diversification funds, retraining programs, and new project investments. Local initiatives include proposals for steel mills, magnesium plants, and renewable energy projects, to create new jobs and industries.
While change is always difficult and not without anxiety, especially in long established industries and locations, this does not have be an ending but can be the start of a bright new era for rural communities, tired of seeing their young people heading to the cities in search of opportunity.
When I was travelling through the small highland town of Miena last year, residents and businesses were excited about the prospect of the nearby wind farm expanding. The wind farm has been the only new industry in the region since the Hydro Electric Commission completed its works there.
Myth# 6 Climate Change is a Hoax to keep Climate Scientists and the Renewable Energy Sector in business
FACT: I have yet to see a wealthy climate scientist and I do know quite a few. Those whom I do know, entered the field to be of service to humanity, not to make a profit. Their work is about evidence, resilience, and safeguarding our shared future. If climate change were truly a hoax, it would be the most elaborate, least lucrative one in history. The reality is that these scientists dedicate their lives to understanding complex systems and warning us of risks, often under intense criticism and with limited resources.
Myth# 7 It's a Conspiracy by Governments/ The United Nations/ the World Economic Forum/ George Soros/ [insert any other entity] to enslave the human race and take away our freedom
The only conspiracy with evidence behind it is the one funded by fossil fuel producers, via manufactured community groups, think tanks and donor networks—some of which are now the subject of court cases.
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