Is Canberra's renewables push eating up rural land on border?

That’s according to its mayor Rowena Abbey who says the rural areas around Canberra are being sought after as new energy sources for the national capital, with the ACT’s target of 100 per cent renewable energy by 2020  just over a year away.

The ACT Government says it is prioritising energy projects within the ACT, but will also take renewable energy from the national grid market, and a report suggests it is major driver in renewables farms from NSW to Victoria to South Australia.

Yass believes the ACT is trying to use some of the 5km buffer around the border that is allowed under legislation to seek rights over, as a way of reaching that target.

Yass is trying to stop the march into rural land by the ACT Government and says it will fight to keep the 5km buffer around the ACT as a rural zone.

Already there is a plan for a solar farm at Sutton, which villagers are objecting to. An action group is opposing the proposed $150m Springdale solar farm on Tallagandra Lane, about 4km from the ACT border and in NSW. The proposal is on rural land covering about 350 hectares.

Locals say they don’t see why Sutton should house a project so that “Canberra can be totally renewable”.

Yass residents have also opposed a number of wind farm projects in the area, although nearby Crookwell has many wind turbines.

The ACT Government earlier this year announced an increase in its renewable energy target from 90 per cent to 100pc by 2020.

“For Canberrans this will mean:

 –  all electricity will be delivered using renewable energy by 2020

 –  clean power from wind and solar sources

 –  jobs and economic benefits stemming from $400 million in local investment to bring jobs and economic benefits.”

A Climate Council report found the ACT renewable target drove a lot of renewable energy projects “across South Australia, Victoria and the ACT” in 2016.

Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce once said the ACT”s renewable target was “insane”. “It just doesn’t work,” he said.