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Hunter Valley is one of the largest wine-producing regions of Australia. It's also the coal capital of the country: for every three wineries in the area, there is one coal mine.
Australia's three largest power plants are located in Hunter Valley and burn up to 20 million tons of coal a year—and rumor has it that the valley will double its coal production in the next two years.
And it's starting to cause some friction. AFP quotes Australian winemaker Brett Keating: "We've coexisted with mining for years but in the last couple of years we just feel like the balance has flipped."
The story continues:
Keating says coal miners are slowly hemming in on the upper Hunter's vineyards, buying growers out for exploration as the industry seeks to keep up with raging global and domestic demand.
This, despite the new prime minister's declaration that she would "to lead a Government that does more to harness the wind and the sun and the new emerging technologies."
The "wines and mines" region of Australia isn't the only place where coal production and nearby communities are clashing. It's just one more reason to add to a long list of why the U.S., Australia, and all the fossil fuel-burning countries in between need better, smarter energy plans that focus more on renewables and less on oil and coal.
More about coal:
In Appalachia, Coal Mining Costs $9-$76 Billion More Per Year Than It Pulls In, Claims Study
Coal Country (Movie Trailer)
Australia's New Prime Minister on Climate Change
