A group of Kentucky landholders campaigning against the Thunderbolt Energy Hub, say the wind farm could create a bushfire threat to their homes.
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It's an allegation rejected by project proponent Neoen.
Members of the Friends of Kentucky Action Group told the Leader they believe the project was the wrong power plant project, planned for the wrong place.
Local, Julian Prior, said the project could cost them between 30 and 60 per cent of their land value.
But farmer Catherine Woof, who spent much of last year defending her property from repeated bushfire threats, said what could be 270-metre turbines would halt the use of firefighting helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft in a crisis.
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"Towards the end of December the sound of a chopper was music to our ears," she said.
"Certainly on our boundary there are turbines within a few hundred metres. [And] over our fence is a ridge with - we call it iron stone locally - it's granite country, that attracts lightning."
She's seen "scores" of bushfires over the 16 years she has lived in the area. The region is mapped as a high risk fire area, Kentucky action group member Julian Prior said.
A spokesperson for project proponent Neoen completely rejected the bushfire concern.
They said it's likely the wind farm will actually reduce the risk of bushfire, by conducting lightning strikes away from flammable trees and other potential ignition points.
"Fire authorities generally consider aerial firefighting a secondary, complementary tactic to ground-based operations," they said, quoting the South Australian fire service to show that ground units tend to be the "primary and only" way to stop a blaze.
The company spokesperson said pilots aren't impeded by turbines, because they won't fly into smoke anyway, and will fly near turbines when there isn't any.
Also the creation of access roads for the project will greatly facilitate ground-based firefighting efforts, they said.
The Kentucky debate is the latest community battle over a renewables project in the region. The small town of Nundle is divided over a wind project proposed outside their community.
Most members of the group who spoke with the Leader said their biggest concern was a reduction in their land value, with Mr Prior pointing to a 2018 report by the Wind Farm Commissioner which showed large energy projects should not be built in "more populated areas".
A Neoen spokesperson said they had received "overwhelmingly positive response" on a recent community open day.
The project will cost about $1.01 billion, and will connect a massive 380 megawatt wind farm and 120 megawatt solar farm to a 400 megawatt battery.
It is expected to create over 600 jobs during construction, a process set to last between two and three years.
It will be constructed on private land at a site about 40 kilometres north-east of Tamworth and 40 kilometres south-west of Armidale.
The project's development application is expected to be submitted in 2021.
Nicole Martin said they were not a NIMBY, or anti-renewable group.
But they're calling on project proponent Neoen to either cancel the scheme or build solar.
"We're actually not against renewable energy at all. In actual fact we think it's a great thing. But we just think that these turbines in this location is completely inappropriate," she said.
Andrew Messenger
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
