VIDEO: Senator Scott Ludlam questions Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation
http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/estimates/australian-nuclear-science-technology-organisation Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation Budget Estimates Economics Committee 03 Jun 2013 | Scott Ludlam asked questions of Dr Adi Paterson CEO of ANSTO .
Senator Ludlam asked about ANSTO’s budget allocation – an increase of $8,1 million., and the increased costs of nuclear fuel for the Lucas Heights OPAL nuclear reactor, while uranium prices are low. Ludlam also asked about the $28.7 million listed for decommissioning of HIFAR, predisposal of existing radioactive waste in preparation for long-term storage.
Other questions included ones on health and safety at ANSTO, and on legal cases going on regarding this. Some of these questions to be answered later “on notice”
Australia’s largest wind farm depends on tiny island community’s vote
VIDEO King Island residents to vote on wind farms http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-03/king-island-residents-to-vote-on-wind-farms/4729950
(includes video)Southern hemisphere’s largest wind farm hinges on King Island community support Jun 3, 2013 The development of what would be the southern hemisphere’s largest wind farm hinges on a survey in the small Tasmanian community of King Island. Residents and land-owners will vote yes or no to the proposal to build the 200-turbine wind farm, which would play a huge role in helping Australia meet its renewable energies targets.
Hydro Tasmania says the the farm will bring hundreds of millions of dollars into the local community, as well as infrastructure upgrades and at least 60 jobs. Each of the turbines, designed to take advantage of the Roaring Forties, will be 150m tall from the base of the turbine to the tip of the blade.
But the local community, with a population of 1,500, has to give the project its stamp of approval – something that is far from assured.
Hydro will send out surveys on Friday to gauge the level of community support before it goes ahead with an $18 million feasibility study.It says it wants 60 per cent approval from the local community…..http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-03/community-support-vital-for-king-island-wind-farm/4729432
Liberal State governments attack renewable energy – prelude to Abbott destruction of renewable energy
The second story was not just one, but a barrage of media placements from Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and others seeking to lay the blame for the state’s stunning 22.5 per cent average rise in electricity costs in 2013/14 on green energy schemes, glossing over the fact that the overwhelming majority of the bill increases come because the cost of the billions of dollars of network upgrades is being borne by the consumer.
Abbott strangles $20bn green investment – to save 50c/week REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson 3 June 2013 Two news stories over the weekend give a chilling insight into what might await the Australian renewable energy industry under a Federal Coalition government.
The first story was mostly symbolic in nature. The Newcastle Herald reported that the only wind turbine in Newcastle, the 600kW Kooragang turbine that was constructed in 1997 to “promote the emerging green energy market” is to be removed by Ausgrid – to make way for a new coal loader.
It is just a single turbine but, amazingly, apart from a small demonstration turbine at the CSIRO energy centre nearby, it is the only one in NSW north of Sydney. In fact, going north, you need to travel 2,000kms to the Atherton Tablelands before coming across another commercial wind turbine, 20 small towers amounting to 12MW at Windy Hill in the Atherton Tablelands. There are two other small turbines on Thursday Island, at the tip of the country and that is it – just 12.45MW of wind energy north of Sydney, out of a total of 2,500MW across the country.
How many other turbines are built in NSW will likely be influenced by key decisions being made by NSW Cabinet as early as today about rules governing wind farm developments and the state’s renewable energy plans. That, of course, and the fate of the large-scale renewable energy target – a federal decision. Continue reading
Queensland’s electricity consumers copping huge costs paid to State Government
Qld’s financial bonanza from networks – paid for by consumers REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson 4 June 2013As Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and his senior ministers continue their campaign to vilify rooftop solar, a new report has thrown further light on the real reason behind the massive increases in electricity bills in recent years – the huge increase in money pocketed from the network providers by the state government.
A report prepared for the Queensland CaneGrowers association by Melbourne-based energy consultancy CME says receipts pocketed by the state government from its network operators has more than doubled each year – from $47 million in 2007/8 to $970 million in 2011/12 – and this has been paid for by the consumers. Continue reading
Climate injury added to nuclear injury – The Marshall Islands
Pacific islands’ deadly threat from climate change http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/pacific-islands-face-a-deadly-threat-from-climate-change/2013/05/30/86ff1956-c7a9-11e2-9245-773c0123c027_story.html By Phillip Muller, May 30 2013 Phillip Muller is foreign minister of the Marshall Islands.
For almost 70 years, my country, the Marshall Islands, has been fighting for its survival. Unfortunately, the threats we face are the result of forces we cannot control.
From 1946 to 1958, we endured the horror of 67 atmospheric nuclear tests. The most powerful was the “Bravo shot,” equivalent in power to 1,000 Hiroshima bombs. Now our residents are confronted by a different kind of atmospheric danger: the existential threat posed by climate change.
After a prolonged and unseasonable droughtthat began late last year, the severe lack of drinking water in our northern atolls led my government to declare a disaster area on May 7. This humanitarian crisis is climate-induced. Continue reading
Britain’s £80million a year stash of radioactive trash
UK’s plutonium stockpile dilemma http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21505271 2 June 13 By Rob Broomby File on 4 Britain has accumulated the biggest stockpile of civil plutonium in the world. What was once a valued asset is now viewed as a costly liability and a target for terrorists.
Previous attempts to deal with the stockpile have gone wrong and the government now faces a dilemma. Should it try to turn the stuff into nuclear fuel or write off the plutonium altogether? Amid tight security at the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria, is a store holding most of Britain’s stockpile of plutonium.
The UK is currently home to 112 tonnes of what is the most toxic substance ever created – and most of it is held in a modern grey building to one side of the site. Such is the sensitivity surrounding the building and its contents that only a handful of staff, with the necessary security clearance, are allowed inside.Estimates suggest that the taxpayer currently spends £80m a year to store it safely and stop it from falling into the wrong hands.
Adrian Simper, Director of Strategy and Technology for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority which now owns the site, admits the threat from terrorists is an ever-present risk. Continue reading
Movement for Community Energy in Australia
Community Energy Push In Australia http://cleantechnica.com/2013/06/02/community-energy-push-in-australia/#bgWwJ0mK4m8lm50T.99 June 2, 2013 Giles Parkinson Community energy and pro renewable NGOs are calling for the Federal government to establish a $50 million fund that would seek to leverage up to half a billion dollar of investment in community-owned renewable energy projects.
The call for a Community Energy Grant Fund is an attempt to offer a catalyst for growing community interest in renewable energy projects, and to fill in a gap in the country’s portfolio of renewable energy projects of between 10kW and 50MW According to a proposal led by the Community Power Agency, Yes2Renewables and other NGOs and community energy groups, the funding could cover early stage development costs for around 75 projects and bring them to the stage of being investment ready and able to release share offerings to the community.
This would include feasibility studies, resource assessment (such as wind monitoring), community engagement, planning studies, business case development, and legal advice.
The proposal seeks to tap into growing interest in the community renewables space, as outlined in RenewEconomy last week. On Thursday, Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 