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Abstract The announcement by AGL Energy Ltd. that it would close its aging Liddell coal-fired thermal power station outside of Muswellbrook in New South Wales, Australia, in 2022 and concentrate on energy generation from renewable sources produced the ideal opportunity to conduct a study of how accepting communities in the Upper Hunter Valley (UHV) were of the closure of the power station. A mixed-methods approach was conducted by means of focus group meetings and interviews using qualitative data, as well as surveys collecting qualitative and quantitative data. Analysis of the qualitative and quantitative data showed that the communities were divided regarding issues about personal and family health. Of the respondents, 71% clearly agreed that the transition away from coal would have a significant impact on the economic and social life of UHV communities. Although there was a suggestion of an authority being established to guide the transition, a renewable energy hub would seem to be an important development opportunity. Before initiating changes that could lead to a transition, the author believes that the "underlying culture of ignorance" should be extinguished. The lack of understanding about toxic chemicals and health, as well as the lack of knowledge about renewable energy, needs to be addressed through investment in community health education, renewable energy education, and educational support to provide new renewable training opportunities for power workers.
Introduction
Climate change is the biggest threat in the 21st century (Watts et al., 2019); many advocate that now is the time the world has to deal with the climate crisis (Ripple et al., 2020). Extreme weather events in many countries range from earthquakes, typhoons, hurricanes, floods, and extreme heat leading to fires and toxic smoke. In global terms, emissions reduction is essential if we want to reduce our carbon footprint by 2 °C to return to pre-industrial averages (Group of Seven, 2015).
In regard to global coal production, China is the biggest producer; however, China has closed its four big coal-fired power stations in Beijing due to extreme pollution, but is now building coal-fired power stations in many other countries (Inskeep & Westerman, 2019). China remains the world's biggest producer of carbon emissions, but in 2018 also contributed to one third of the global renewables investment (Hutchens, 2020). China...