Barry Brook should be removed from the South Australian Nuclear Royal Commission
So that’s the game plan − making absurd claims about Generation IV reactors, pretending that they are near-term prospects, and being less than “abundantly clear” about the truth. Time for these people to be held to account and for Brook to be removed from the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission’s ‘expert panel’.
Royal Commissioner Kevin Scarce was forewarned about Brook’s track record of peddling 
misinformation but still chose to include Brook in his ‘expert panel’.
On the troubled worldwide history with fast reactors, see the report by the International Panel on Fissile Materials.
Barry Brook being less than “abundantly clear” about Generation IV reactors Jim Green, June 2015, www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear/issues/oz/barry-brook-bravenewclimate An 18 June 2015 guest post on Barry Brook’s website claims that Generation IV fast neutron reactors will be mass produced and “dominating the market by about 2030.”
Compare that Big Fat Lie with the following:
- The Generation IV International Forum states: “Depending on their respective degree of technical maturity, the FIRST Generation IV systems are expected to be deployed commercially around 2030-2040.” (emphasis added)
- The International Atomic Energy Agency states: “Experts expect that the FIRST Generation IV fast reactor DEMONSTRATION PLANTS AND PROTOTYPES will be in operation by 2030 to 2040.” (emphases added)
- A 2015 report by the French government’s Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) states: “There is still much R&D to be done to develop the Generation IV nuclear reactors, as well as for the fuel cycle and the associated waste management which depends on the system chosen.”
IRSN is also sceptical about safety claims: “At the present stage of development, IRSN does not notice evidence that leads to conclude that the systems under review are likely to offer a significantly improved level of safety compared with Generation III reactors, except perhaps for the VHTR …” Moreover the VHTR (very high temperature reactor) system could bring about significant safety improvements “but only by significantly limiting unit power”.
- The World Nuclear Association noted in 2009 that “progress is seen as slow, and several potential [Generation IV] designs have been undergoing evaluation on paper for many years.”
Economist Ross Garnaut says nuclear power is too costly
Nuclear power may be too costly for us: Ross Garnaut THE AUSTRALIAN JUNE 22, 2015Nuclear energy may be too costly in Australia to compete with renewables, a prominent economist says.
Ahead of his 2015 Luxton Memorial Lecture at the University of Adelaide tomorrow, Ross Garnaut told The Australian the world was moving decisively towards a low-carbon economy and Australia was uniquely placed to benefit from this.
However, Australia needed to remove political debate from discussion on renewable energy and instead let economics decide, Professor Garnaut said…….
His doubts about the economic merits of nuclear energy come during the South Australian royal commission into nuclear energy and ahead of debate at Labor’s national conference next month over its position on nuclear energy.
Antony Hegarty sings out for the Martu people in their struggle against uranium mining
“For the Martu in Parnngurr, the community nearest the proposed uranium mine, the plan is causing distress,” she says. “Some of the women elders of Parnngurr seem not only to fear the potential danger that any uranium mine will obviously pose to the watershed and the local environment, but they also feel an existential burden of responsibility as the stewards of that land to protect dangerous resources from being exploited.”
Antony Hegarty, the Martu and the mine: land custodians fight corporate might, Guardian, Paul Daley, 21 June 15 The New York avant garde transgender singer joins the Martu people of Parnngurr in Western Australia to oppose a uranium mine 80km away When an international mining company surveys the Australian land for minerals it sees few physical impediments.
If necessary rivers can be rerouted, hillocks flattened and giant boulders shifted in order to access the wealth beneath.
Traditional custodians, mindful of the human ancestors and the creationist animals, view terrain quite differently. For them that river is the rainbow serpent, and the hills the spine of a goanna or a crocodile. And those boulders? They could be the eggs – or the newly hatched babies – of the owl or the platypus.
For many Indigenous Australians the sanctity of country transcends the commercial value of what lies beneath. Continue reading
Wind industry opponent Senators likely to prevail in Senate vote
More barriers to wind farms likely by Senate vote CHRIS MCLENNAN THE WEEKLY TIMES JUNE 19, 2015 THE Federal Senate will likely vote on the renewable energy target on Monday. The vote, schedules for yesterday, was delayed by last-minute negotiations between the Government and crossbenchers to further control wind farms.
The RET is critical to investment in more renewable energy power in Australia and political debate has caused long delays to projects ready to be built in Victoria.
Wind farms worth almost $5 billion are poised to go in Victoria. Thirteen projects with 854 turbines have won municipal council and State Government support. Wind farm developments near Mortlake, Ballarat, Ararat, Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Ballan, Colac and St Arnaud can begin the moment the Federal Government signs off on the RET.
Energy companies have said turbines could be built within two years of the RET getting the green light.
There are concerns the Federal Government will introduced new rules with its RET to reflect Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s personal dislike of turbines…..
One trade-off in talks with crossbenchers has been the appointment of a wind farm commissioner and an ombudsman to investigate wind farms’ possible impacts on health.
Senators Bob Day, David Leyonhjelm, Jacqui Lambie and John Madigan have raised concerns about health impacts.
There are currently 14 wind farms in Victoria, with 500 turbines.
The Victorian Government has tried to promote more investment in wind farms by reducing the exclusion zone around dwellings from winds farms from 2km to 1km. http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/politics/more-barriers-to-wind-farms-likely-by-senate-vote/story-fnkerdda-1227405886378
All year round vegetable production from huge solar glasshouse in New South Wales
Massive solar-powered glasshouse in NSW Hunter Valley to employ refugees, migrants , ABC News, By Jackson Vernon 21 June 15 Construction is underway on Australia’s biggest glasshouse, in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, which is solar powered and already providing employment opportunities for new migrants and refugees.
Excavators have started the groundwork on the vegetable growing facility at Fullerton Cove, about 40 minutes outside of Newcastle. At more than 16 hectares, it will cover the size of 20 rugby fields.Dutch investor Cor Disselkoen has developed glasshouses throughout the Netherlands and has brought in materials and labour for construction here.
Once operating, the facility will produce 15,000 tonnes of tomatoes, cucumbers and capsicums every year. “We are producing 14 times more per square metre so we have a huge production compared to open field growing,” Mr Disselkoen said.
“It’s year-round, reliable, independent from whatever climactic circumstances so we can guarantee year around delivery to our clients.” Continue reading
South Africa is finding nuclear power unaffordable
The South African government has said it will not go ahead with nuclear power if the expected construction cost is more than $6500/kW, equivalent to about R130bn per reactor. However, the latest cost estimates are about 25% higher than this. This means that if the South African government sticks to its promise, the tender will fail.
Why South Africa should steer clear of nuclear, By Steve Thomas, Professor of Energy Policy at University of Greenwich Business Tech By The Conversation June 
21, 2015 It would be sensible to acknowledge that a nuclear programme is not viable for resolving South Africa’s energy crisis. Rather, the country should be focusing its attention on how to end electricity blackouts and speed up energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes.
Building new nuclear energy capability will cost the country billions of US dollars. It is doubtful that South Africa can afford this.
In addition, nuclear power entails a different but also serious set of risks to climate change. These include the risk of reactor accidents, the danger of weapons proliferation and the hazards of radioactive waste……
Price of nuclear
We need a Coal Commissioner on health effects of coal mining
The health consequences of the fossil fuel industry have been ignored for many years. On any comparison, it is unfair to focus exclusively on the health implications of wind turbines and, at the same time, ignore the health implications of other forms of energy production……..
Compared to the recommendations by the senate committee on wind turbines, the recommendations from the Hazelwood Coal Fire Inquiry were relatively tame.
Wind commissioner? Let’s have a coal commissioner too, The Conversation, Samantha Hepburn, 19 June 15 Wind turbines have got Canberra in a spin this week, with hearings underway from the senate inquiry into wind turbines and their possible health impacts. The committee yesterday released an interim report from chair John Madigan with seven recommendations to increase regulation around the wind industry.
A dissenting report from Labor senator Anne Urquhart questioned the political timing of the report.
Meanwhile, a leaked email from environment minister Greg Hunt has offered crossbench senators a “wind farm commissioner” in return for support for the passage of renewable energy legislation.
But behind the politics, how do the report’s recommendations stack up?
The recommendations Continue reading
Refuting the claims of the anti-wind farm brigade
Senate told wind farms not bad for health
One of Australia’s leading health and medical research bodies has told a Senate inquiry there is no evidence that wind turbines make you sick.
The Federal Government has told key crossbench senators it’ll appoint a wind farm commissioner to handle complaints from residents concerned about wind turbines.
But the National Health and Medical Research Council says while it’s still investigating wind turbines, it’s satisfied they don’t pose much of a risk.
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2015/s4258297.htm
Wind farm commissioner: Senator John Madigan defends proposal for fresh scrutiny on wind turbines; professor says ‘no evidence’ of health risks
Crossbench senator John Madigan accuses green groups of “shrill denials” over the issue of wind farms, after the Federal Government offered to appoint a special commissioner to look into complaints about the renewable energy …
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-19/madigan-defends-wind-farm-commissioner-proposal/6557634
Debate: Kelly O’Shanassy and David Leyonhjelm
The Prime Minister is proposing the creation of a wind farm commissioner to handle complaints about turbine noise and their alleged health impacts. Tony Abbott says the concerns need to be taken seriously. Australian Conservation Foundation CEO Kelly O’Shanassy and Liberal Democratic senator David Leyonhjelm debate the issue with Steve Cannane.
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2015/s4258737.htm
No need to investigate windfarms or alien abduction, says Greens leader Richard Di Natale
Greens leader Richard Di Natale has slammed critics of windfarms, saying there is no need to investigate them.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2015/jun/18/di-natale-wind-farms-turbines-energy-alien-abducation-greens-commissioner-video
Wind farm commissioner for Government’s ‘tin foil hat brigade’, say Greens
News of an Australian wind farm commissioner has renewed the old debate about the claimed health effects of wind turbines.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/06/19/wind-farm-commissioner-governments-tin-foil-hat-brigade-say-greens
China helping Jordan to become renewable energy hub
Chinese enterprise funds Middle East renewables, Independent Australia Anthony M Horton 18 June 2015, New reports confirm that the future of the Middle East is in renewables, which is already cheaper and more reliable than oil. The region is predicted to become a global green economic hub, reports Anthony M Horton.
FOLLOWING A grant worth US$310 million from Hanergy, a Chinese energy enterprise that produces thin-film solar technology, Jordan will expand its power grid and increase its renewable energy production by 1 Gigawatt. As a result of Hanergy’s assistance, Jordan will achieve its goal of increasing renewable energy capacity to 40 per cent (1.8 Gigawatts) by 2020.
Jordan began removing fossil fuel subsidies and created the country’s Renewable Energy and Efficiency Fund a decade ago. This signalled the move to cleaner energy, and other Middle Eastern countries are also looking seriously at them. A report published by The Climate Group earlier this year (reported on 23 April) discussed the potential of the region to become a global green economy hub.
Their analysis, which was supported by the International Renewable Energy Agency, gave an overview of the current and future renewables landscape and explored the role that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would play in reshaping the world’s energy future, given the lessons it was learning from flagship projects in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in terms of the best opportunities and ways to upscale renewables.
The report also highlighted the increasing adoption of solar energy technologies as evidence of the growing appetite of the private sector……….https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/chinese-enterprise-funds-middle-east-renewables,7839
1 This month
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