Farmers hosting wind and solar farms are copping bullying and violent threats from locals opposed to the new developments, as a political brawl over renewables drives a wedge through communities around the country.

Many local campaigns have sprung up in regional Australia to oppose renewable energy projects as well as transmission lines that are needed to link the far-flung renewables to cities.

At the first hearing of a federal parliamentary inquiry into climate change information on Monday, Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Tony Mahar said the families of landholders who welcomed renewables on their land were being threatened.

“One of the most troubling areas that I have come across visiting communities is the division … and the bullying, harassment, intimidation that I’ve

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