Farmers and graziers in Norther Queensland worried about environmental impacts of Adani coal mine project
Qld farmers and graziers afraid to speak out against the Adani mine, says Bruce Currie, ABC AM By Katherine Gregory 23 Nov 17 It’s not just urban southern greenies and pro-coal country Queenslanders involved in the Adani debate — farmers and graziers in the north are also voicing their concerns. In north and central parts of Queensland, some say they are worried about the environmental impacts of the mine and their future livelihood.
Bruce Currie, who has land near Jericho, about 100 kilometres from the Adani site, said many graziers in the Galilee basin were worried about their groundwater security.
“The people I have spoken to on the actual site are very concerned,” he said.
“Because any discussions they’ve had with Adani, the company has not been prepared to accept the onus of proof.
“Court cases have shown it is going to be extremely hard, if near nearly impossible, for landholders to get their water supplies secure if they have to prove it’s a mining company that destroyed them.”
However, farmers like Mr Couture concerned about the mine face desperation for jobs in the region.
Mr Couture said though publicly the media was reporting that Bowen was pro Adani, in truth the town was split on the issue.
“I would say it’s 50/50. The silent majority is not game to talk in public, because you could upset your neighbour, you could upset your family, you could upset people that are pro Adani,” he said.
Mr Currie, who is running as an independent in the electorate of Gregory for the state election, said while Adani spoke about developing the Galilee Basin, that was not really happening.
“Once those mines have been and gone within the lifetime of my kids, there will be no mines, there will be no resources and no royalties, and they would have destroyed our water for perpetuity,” he said.
Concern about the mine has also extended hundreds of kilometres further east to Bowen, about three hours drive south of Townsville.
Dennis Couture, a fruit and vegetable grower in Bowen, said the growing region and Great Barrier Reef could be under threat in the future.
“For the future generation, to be able to give them something that won’t be destructed and wrecked,” he said.
However he said he mostly unhappy with what appeared to be a double standard by the Queensland Government.
“The Government will permit Adani to use as much water as they want,” he said.
“And on the other hand they look at us, the farmer that supplies food, and they are restricting us on water.”…….http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-23/qld-farmers-afraid-to-speak-out-against-the-adani-mine/9182958
24 November More REneweconomy news
RenewEconomy-
Forget COAG – how durable is Coalition support for the NEG?When the NEG was nebulous, its boosters were able to promise all things to all people. Now, with slightly more detail out, it will be a really hard sell.
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Tesla big battery – world’s biggest – charges up for first timeWorld’s biggest battery charges up for first time as testing begins ahead of its formal commissioning next week.
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COAG agrees to put wind and solar sectors in no-man’s landCOAG agrees to commission more design work on the Turnbull government’s proposed National Energy Guarantee, forcing the renewable energy industries in Australia into yet another period of policy uncertainty.
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Queensland poll could be a show-stopper for solar, and consumersAs Queensland prepares to vote in the state election on Saturday, we look at what’s at stake for the renewables industry – particularly if Labor loses.
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Northern Territory to release 50% renewables plan next weekNorthern Territory government expected to unveil roadmap for 50 per cent renewable energy target next week.
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Delta Energy Systems charges EV convoy to top of Cradle MountainThis is the first event where electric vehicles demonstrated that the drive from Devonport to Cradle Mountain, a popular tourist destination, is entirely possible using standard production EVs currently available in Australia.
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Andrew Dillon appointed new CEO of Energy Networks AustraliaEnergy Networks Australia is pleased to announce Mr Andrew Dillon’s appointment as its new Chief Executive Officer.
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Push for second Tasmania Basslink wins new ARENA fundingAustralian Renewable Energy Agency tips another $20m into feasibility and business case for second interconnector across Bass Strait.
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NEG is supposed to be better than nothing. But is it?The NEG is yet another case of Australian exceptionalism in energy, typical of the toxic mix of muddled thinking and ideology that dominates regulatory oversight of this industry.
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HOWZAT! Adelaide over on front foot with project putting energy efficiency up in lightsAdelaide Oval has unveiled a world class audience experience created through a CEFC-financed major lighting upgrade that goes all out to put substantial runs on the energy efficiency scoreboard.
24 November REneweconomy news
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How tech nerds can reinvent electricity before it’s too lateThere’s a growing mob that thinks it can reinvent electricity, from old to new, and from a supply-dominated industry-based model to consumers-in-control. -
Here are 4 essential fixes for the National Energy GuaranteeA policy that doesn’t encourage additional generation capacity won’t reduce high power prices. Here are four essential fixes for the NEG.
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Australia corporate solar market ready to boom, says New Energy SolarThe head of what will be Australia’s largest listed specialist solar investment fund is looking to tap the booming corporate solar sector.
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BNEF: Turnbull’s NEG akin to joining gym and not lifting weightsBNEF says NEG under current targets would achieve little, and be akin to finally signing up to a gym, and then refusing to lift any weights.
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CEFC targets energy hungry shopping centres, with $200m finance dealCEFC tips $200m debt finance into QIC’s Global Real Estate flagship Shopping Centre Fund, in deal expected to deliver energy savings of between 30-40% using solar and energy efficiency.
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Alinta dives back into coal with purchase of Loy Yang BAlinta dives back into coal, paying top dollar for Loy Yang B generator, suggesting it expects high prices and limp climate policies to continue.
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First Australian corporate bulk-buy to deliver new 80MW wind farmAn 80MW wind farm to be built near Ararat after first-of-kind contract with powerful consortium of 14 universities, corporations and Councils.
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Is NEG just an elaborate plan to fund Turnbull’s vanity project?Latest advice from Energy Security board makes it clear that on current policy settings the NEG will not reduce emissions, cut costs or invite new wind and solar investment. But there may be something else afoot – Malcolm Turnbull’s vanity project.
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1414 plans two “gigawatt hour” silicon storage plants in S.A.South Australian company opens new manufacturing facility and says it plans to build two grid scale 1GWh silicon storage systems in the state.
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Tesla big battery on track to be “energised” in coming daysTesla big battery fully installed and on time in South Australia, and about to be “energised” and tested by regulators and market operators.
Anti Adani coal plan protest in Brisbane, as Queenland election nears
Anti-Adani protesters defy council, police in last-ditch action before election, SMH, Toby Crockford , 21 Nov 17 More than 200 anti-Adani activists have defied council and police by gathering in the heart of Brisbane for a last-ditch protest just days before the Queensland election.
Organisers hinted there could be mass arrests on Tuesday evening after Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Police Service refused to issue permits for the action, but despite a strong police presence, no arrests were made…….
Cr Sri also asked protesters to take pictures from the rally and post them onto social media in order to generate discussion about the Adani proposal in the days before voters head to the polls.
“No one wants the coal, the business model’s all wrong,” he sang.
“And if the trucks start to roll, you better bet we’re locking on.
“There are thousands of us, our supporters number millions, we’re gonna mobilise, a whole army of civilians.
“And if you don’t like it you might as well resign, ‘cos there’s no way we’ll ever let you build that mine, there’s no way we’ll ever let you build that mine.”…http://www.smh.com.au/queensland/anti-adani-protesters-defy-council-police-in-last-ditch-action-before-election-20171121-p4yx57.html
Australia’s Chief Scientist Alan Finkel urges more energy storage
Alan Finkel pushes for more energy storage to keep bills down and maintain reliability http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-20/energy-storage-needed-to-keep-bills-down-finkel-report-warns/9167610 Power bills will go up and energy supply will be less reliable unless Australia develops better storage systems, according to Chief Scientist Alan Finkel.
Key points:
- Report emphasises batteries and other storage solutions including turbines and demand response are key to keeping costs down and maintaining reliability
- It also notes Australia could source 50 per cent of its energy from renewables by 2030
- Energy ministers are due to meet this week to discuss Turnbull’s National Energy Guarantee
Storing the energy captured from renewable sources like solar and wind means suppliers are able to meet electrical energy demand at all times of the day.
Dr Finkel has recommended in the past that all large-scale wind and solar generators in Australia should have energy storage capacity.
In addition to battery storage, which today’s report said was the most cost-effective way to strengthen energy security, it also listed alternatives including fast-start gas turbines, spinning reserves in wind turbines, demand response and load shedding measures.
“As we have more and more penetration of variable renewable energy, solar and wind, then we’re going to need storage to be a very important component of having a stable, secure and reliable grid,” the report’s lead author Bruce Godfrey said.
“[That will also help to] enable the environmental benefits that come from low-emissions sources.”
The report estimates Australia will need to spend about $11 billion on storage before 2030 in order to provide a secure energy supply.
But more money may need to be spent to ensure power supply is reliable as Australia makes the transition to renewable energy.
Dr Finkel said Australia had a “long way to go” on storage, and predicted future storage projects would dwarf those already being developed.
“The challenge is to manage the transition from here to there. We are going to be moving to a new future, it’s happening around the world, it’s inevitable,” Dr Finkel said.
“What this report shows is that if storage is used effectively, we can manage that transition as smoothly at the lowest possible price.”
The report has been released ahead of a meeting of state and federal energy ministers to discuss the Turnbull Government’s National Energy Guarantee (NEG).
Under the NEG 28 to 36 per cent of power generation is projected to come from renewables by 2030.
Climate Council modelling shows that means Australia will miss out on between 6,000 and 20,000 new jobs that would have otherwise been created.
Andrew Stock, who has decades of experience in the energy sector and sits on the council, says at least 50 per cent of power generation should be renewable by 2030.
“The current aspiration level that the Federal Government is talking about, that’s way too short of what’s required, so we need more aspirational plans for electricity. That will bring more jobs, up to 20,000 more jobs in this sector,” he told AM.
The Chief Scientist’s report said this target could be easily met without risking reliability or requiring further significant investment in energy storage.
22 November More REneweconomy News
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Queensland’s election – what do the energy numbers say?I hate to break the news, but north Queensland will not be getting a new coal fired power station if the LNP are elected on Saturday.
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First turbine erected at Mount Emerald Wind FarmRatch Australia Corporation announced the completion of the first wind turbine at the Mount Emerald Wind Farm near Walkamin today after the three 16 tonne blades, each 57m long, were positioned in place atop a 90-metre tower.
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ICO and ACCIONA sign a loan agreement for 75 million Australian dollars to finance the construction of a wind farm in AustraliaThe new wind farm, which will come on stream in the second semester of 2018, has a total capacity of 132MW. The electricity generated by the facility will all be sold in the wholesale market.
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100% renewables “cheaper, less risky” than building new coal: ATAATA report says a 100% renewable grid by 2030 not just doable for Australia, but cheaper and safer than building new coal plants.
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Solar and storage peak bodies rebrand as Smart Energy CouncilSolar and storage bodies create Smart Energy Council to better reflect merger of solar, storage and smart software technologies.
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Plunging cost of solar means peak coal looms in IndiaNew modelling predicts India is within a decade of peak coal demand for the power sector. This is sooner than anyone has predicted.
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The climate science denial promoters behind Queensland’s energy scare election headlinesIn the final week before an election, the biggest-selling newspaper in the Australian state of Queensland screamed a front-page headline that cut into one of the poll’s most divisive issues.
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Coalition’s NEG aims to engineer an early death for big solarSo long solar. NEG design assumes no large scale solar investments in Australia for at least eight years – despite recognition that large scale renewables responsible for most bill reductions.
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National Energy Efficiency Awards 2017Corporate leadership, individual excellence and energy efficiency innovation have been recognised and awarded at the National Energy Efficiency Awards 2017.
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Coughing up for coal-fired powerIf Australian tax payers are made to cough up for a new coal plant in north Queensland, locals will also be coughing up – literally.
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LNP, One Nation would force Queensland energy prices up; Greens, ALP downNew report says LNP and One Nation support for uneconomic coal fired power station would force prices up in Queensland, and add to system security risks.
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Darth Vader or not, the Tesla truck changes everythingWith the Tesla truck, Elon Musk has torn down the final frontiers of the campaign against the clean energy transition: cost. And it matters little whether Tesla itself can pull it off – it has already turned two trillion-dollar industries upside down.
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Australia to lead storage boom, as home batteries become “ubiquitous”BNEF report names Australia among 8 countries to lead global energy storage boom, with market forecast to double six times over between now and 2030.
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Australia’s govt and nuclear lobby soften up South Australians for nuclear waste dumping
National Radioactive Waste Management Facility:21 November 2017
Industry has one week left to tender for Site Characterisation Works
Industry is invited to get involved in the process to build a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility, with tenders now open for Site Characterisation works.
The tender is to deliver a range of technical assessments that will form part of Phase Two of the process in relation to the proposed National Radioactive Waste Management Facility, including:
- Assessing flora and fauna, geology, seismic activity, risks, the surrounding environment, transportation and other infrastructure.
- Inputting into the Detailed Business Case, with reference to the site specific design and cost estimates that arise from site characterisation.
- An additional option, following site characterisation, for the preparation and development of submissions for licensing and approvals process…….
Bruce McCleary, General Manager of the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility Taskforce said that site characterisation is an important activity in the next part of the project.
“Three sites, two in Kimba and one at Wallerberdina Station were voluntarily nominated by their landowners and moved to Phase Two assessment after the community supported continuing the discussion,” McCleary said.
“Phase Two involves building a detailed understanding of the nominated sites, through in depth community consultation and technical assessments.
“Community consultation is now well underway, including appointment of locally engaged officers and establishment of site offices at both sites, creation of committees and working groups, and regular visits from members of the project team and experts to provide information on the project.
22 November REneweconomy news
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ACCIONA announces new head of Australian energy businessACCIONA has appointed Brett Wickham as the new Managing Director of its Australian energy business.
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Spain: The high cost of political interference in power marketsSpain is the latest example of governments intervening in power markets to prop up gas, coal and nuclear power, including capacity and “grid reliability” payments.
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Conservatives attack storage report as “eco-evangelism”, Finkel respondsConservatives says new report on battery storage is just “eco-evangelism”. This is what chief scientist Alan Finkel said in response.
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Hunter Valley biofuel facility to advance ethanol productionAs part of a $48 million project, Ethtec aims to construct a $30 million purpose built pilot-scale facility based in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales.
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Schott: Modelling assumptions change, but result more or less the sameSchott scolds government for “spitting the dummy” on Clean Energy Target, but defends design of NEG, saying it clear that more renewables have weakened energy system.
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New Tesla roadster will be the fastest production car everIf the Corvette is the halo car for Chevrolet and General Motors, the new Roadster will be the halo car for Tesla.
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Know your NEM: Waiting for COAG to vote on the NEGFederal Government is something of a lame duck and, in our view, lacks moral authority in the area of energy policy.
Big upset for Australia’s major parties, as Aboriginal Green candidate wins inner-city by-election
Northcote by-election: Greens win inner-city seat, Thorpe to become first female Aboriginal MP, By Richard Willingham, Sunday 19 November 2017
www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-18/greens-win-northcote-by-election/9164644 The Greens’ Lidia Thorpe will become the first Aboriginal woman in Victoria’s Parliament,
defeating Labor’s Clare Burns on the back of a campaign that included a
pitch to voters that they could make history while not toppling a progressive government.
‘It is the first time Labor has lost a Victorian by-election since 1948.’
King Islanders to get free electricity in renewable energy trial
Renewable energy trial provides King Island with free power http://www.theage.com.au/business/energy/renewable-energy-trial-provides-tasmania-with-free-power-20171117-gznwk7.html, Cole Latimer
New technology will provide free power to King Island as it aims to prove low-cost energy generation claims.
Wave Swell Energy, a group developing ocean wave energy generation technology, is carrying out commercial validation trials off Tasmania’s King Island ahead of a potential listing.
The group has built what Wave Swell chief executive Tom Denniss described as “big concrete caverns”, which use the constant back and forth flow of the ocean to generate energy.
“As waves pass into the inside of the cavern the water level rises, this causes pressure on the air, which blows open valves at the top of the unit and turns a uni-directional turbine; as the water recedes it causes negative pressure which closes the valves, creating a cyclical process. The air opening and closing the valves turns a turbine, generating a consistent flow of power.
“What sets this apart from other wave generation technology is its lack of moving parts,” Mr Denniss said. “It sits just below the water line, it’s like an iceberg, but with only two-thirds underwater.”
The blocks are located in water depths of around 10 metres, and typically found up to 500 metres offshore. They connect to the mainland via undersea cables and provide energy to the onshore grid via a transformer unit.
A single, one-megawatt generation offshore unit weighs about 4500 tonnes. It is built onshore and moved into place using semisubmersible barges.
The group is carrying out commercial validation of its technology on King Island, and has signed an offtake agreement with Hydro Tasmania for an initial 200-kilowatt trial unit, and will operate during 2018 after its initial funding goals are reached.
Denniss said all energy generated will initially be provided to the King Island grid and Hydro Tasmania for free.
Current tests put generation costs at $100 per megawatt hour, or 10¢ a kilowatt hour.
“This is really about ensuring independent verification, and Hydro Tasmania verifying that we can produce at the low cost of 10¢ per kilowatt hour,” Mr Denniss said.
Typical solar systems cost around 13¢ per kilowatt-hour and wind about 7¢ per kilowatt-hour, not including grid costs.
Mr Denniss added that the units can also be used as breakwaters or as an artificial reef, with trials demonstrating an increase in marine life where they are installed.
Wave Swell is still looking to investors to raise $8.3 million over the coming months, having secured $2 million in investment to date, and has set a goal of raising $10 million in total funding, Mr Denniss told Fairfax Media.
“We are targeting anyone for funding, from energy companies, construction companies, or individuals who see upside in investing.”
It has used RFC Ambrian to arrange a private placement of 1.73 million shares at a value of $4.80, and anticipates having a total of 6.9 million shares on issue, putting a potential value of $33 million on the company.
The group plans to list after the successful commercial viability trials of the technology on King Island.
Mr Denniss said it will most likely carry out an initial public offering on London’s AIM exchange, although it will not rule out a listing on the ASX.
Australian government lending to Adani? A bad look internationally!
Australia’s reputation faces ‘serious’ risks if Adani loan goes ahead: Figueres, http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/australias-reputation-faces-serious-risks-if-adani-loan-goes-ahead-figueres-20171118-gzo8fh.html Providing a $1 billion loan to underwrite Adani’s proposed mega coal mine in Queensland would have “serious negative impacts” for Australia’s international reputation and “unpick the progress” of the Paris climate agreement, according to Christiana Figueres, a former United Nations climate chief.
Ms Figueres has written to the Turnbull government’s Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), which is considering a concessional loan for a rail link from the mine to the coast
The former executive secretary of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change
sought to highlight that under the NAIF’s own enabling legislation, it “must not act in a way that is likely to cause damage to the Commonwealth government’s reputation, or that of a relevant State or Territory”.
Ms Figueres warned the expected total lifetime carbon emissions from burning coal from the proposed Carmichael in the Galilee basin would be 4.64 billion tonnes of carbon-dioxide, according to details of the letter obtained by Fairfax Media.
At its peak, the mine’s product would trigger emissions of 120 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent, roughly equal to what Australia has pledged to cut by 2030 from current pollution levels under its Paris pledges.
“Based on these numbers, emissions that would result from burning Carmichael coal in one peak production year would completely cancel out the total emissions reduction effort Australia has committed to for the 13 years from now until 2030 under the Paris Agreement,” she said.
The rail loan, now being considered by NAIF, has been a key point of debate in Queensland’s state elections, with polls indicating little support for concessional finance for Adani, a mining conglomerate owned by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her government, if re-elected at Saturday’s elections, would have no role in assessing the NAIF loan, effectively blocking it. Oppositional leader Tim Nicholls supports the loan and has blasted the premier’s stance as putting thousands of regional jobs at risk.
Ms Figueres said her intervention was prompted by a “deep concern for planetary well-being, I cannot, in all good conscience, remain silent on an issue that threatens to unpick the progress represented by the Paris Agreement”.
“A decision by the NAIF (and the Australian Government) to financially support the Adani project would be likely to have serious negative impacts on Australia’s reputation, in particular that of the Commonwealth Government,” Ms Figueres said, highlighting Australia’s commitment to “refrain from acts which would defeat” the Paris accord’s object and purpose.
Ms Figueres’ letter to the NAIF was dated November 17, the final day of the Bonn climate talks aimed at nudging nations to increase their commitments to cut emissions two years on from the Paris accord.
Australia copped criticism at the gathering for its promotion of coal, with Hilda Heine, president of the Marshall Islands calling for a change of government in Canberra and urging nations to stop burning the intensive-heavy fossil fuel.
Dean Bialek, a former Australian diplomat and advisor to small island states threatened by the rising sea levels driven by climate change, said Ms Figueres had been “utterly shocked to learn the government was considering a huge subsidy” for Adani during a recent visit to Australia.
“She felt compelled to explain to the NAIF Board how dangerous and irresponsible this project would be in global environmental terms, and the serious damage it would do to Australia’s international reputation and standing in the world,” said Dr Bialek, who now works with Ms Figueres on her Mission 2020.
The project is attempting to accelerate climate action to get global emissions peaking and then trending lower by 2020. A report out last week by the Global Carbon Project estimated emissions will jump this year by 2 per cent after flatlining for three years, to a record 41 billion tonnes of CO2.
Chief Scientist Alan Finkel says that Renewables could reliably contribute 50% to power grid
, says Alan Finkel, Guardian, Katharine Murphy, 20 Nov 17 , Chief scientist warns in new report that Australia risks missing out on global growth industry of energy storage because of ongoing policy uncertainty Australia’s power grid can reach penetrations of 50% renewable energy without a significant requirement for storage to support reliability, according to a new report commissioned by Australia’s chief scientist, Alan Finkel.
While the Turnbull government has made much of the need for storage to increase security and reliability in the national power grid, the new report from the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) says at an aggregated national level, 50% renewables is possible without major investments in storage for reliability purposes.
But the report also points out that the requirement to shore-up network security as power systems decarbonise in accordance with international climate policy commitments is an ongoing task, and that transition means energy storage is now a major global growth industry.
It notes that new energy security requirements create opportunities to expand energy storage capacity for reliability at a lower marginal cost than would otherwise be the case.
It also warns that Australia risks missing out on the benefits of participating in global supply chains because of ongoing uncertainty over energy policy.
As well as focussing on building local manufacturing capacity, the report says Australia’s research and development performance in energy storage technologies is world class, “but would benefit from strategic focus and enhanced collaboration.”
The report points out that Australian energy storage start-ups face challenges, including access to venture capital, which are related to continuing uncertainty over energy and climate policy……
Last month, the Turnbull government dumped Finkel’s recommendation for a clean energy target and went with a policy which imposes new reliability and emissions reduction guarantees on energy retailers and large energy users from 2020 – a policy which will encourage new investment in storage.
The energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, is due to meet with his state counterparts later this week to consider whether or not consensus can be reached on the national energy guarantee – but going in to the discussions, some of the Labor states have resisted the proposal on the basis it isn’t sufficiently friendly to renewables.
The federal government needs buy-in from the states, because the new system requires jurisdictions to pass complimentary legislation to set up the national energy guarantee.
The new report by ACOLA , which assessed various energy storage technologies, also probed public attitudes, with focus groups in two capital cities and with a national survey of 1,015 respondents.
The research suggests Australians favour a more ambitious renewable mix by 2030, particularly solar and wind, with significant energy storage deployed to manage grid security………
Bruce Godfrey, chair of ACOLA working group, says the new report “clearly shows the two sides of the coin – that energy storage is an enormous opportunity for Australia but there is work to be done to build consumer confidence”.
Finkel, the chief scientist, and the man who led the review of the national electricity grid, says Australia should grab a major new export industry by developing our technical capacity. Given our natural resources and our technical expertise, energy storage could represent a major new export industry for our nation,” Finkel says.
“Energy storage is an opportunity to capitalise on our research strengths, culture of innovation and abundant natural resources.
“We have great advantages in the rapidly expanding field of lithium production and the emerging field of renewable hydrogen with export opportunities to Asia.” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/nov/20/renewables-could-reliably-contribute-50-to-power-grid-says-alan-finkel
Surge in wind farms in Australia, drop in complaints about them
‘Desultory’: Wind farm complaints aren’t keeping up with surging industry, The Age, Peter Hannam, 19 Nov 17, The surge in new wind farm developments has failed to produce an upswing in complaints, with just nine of the 79 projects operating in Australia receiving any formal objections, Andrew Dyer, the National Wind Farm Commissioner, has said.
As of the end of October, the commission had received 54 complaints, for existing projects, with all but two resolved. Four people had relocated as part of the resolution process.
“There are no complaints for recently completed wind farms,” Mr Dyer told Fairfax Media.
Victorian wind farms have attracted the bulk of objections, accounting for 31 of the 54, while SA and NSW had 16 and seven complaints, respectively. Operating wind farms in other states have not triggered any complaints, Mr Dyer said.
The National Wind Farm Commissioner’s three-year term – which began in late 2015 with $2 million funding – followed a Senate inquiry prompted in part by efforts of a few anti-wind turbine groups.
Fears by supporters of renewable energy that the commission may have spurred an uptick in opposition to wind farms have largely been allayed, with the role now seen as helping developers understand and respond better to community concerns.
Simon Chapman, whose upcoming book, Wind turbine syndrome: A communicated disease, describes the number of complaints as “desultory”, said opposition to the industry from the cross-bench senators had backfired.
“There are no complaints for recently completed wind farms,” Mr Dyer told Fairfax Media.
Victorian wind farms have attracted the bulk of objections, accounting for 31 of the 54, while SA and NSW had 16 and seven complaints, respectively. Operating wind farms in other states have not triggered any complaints, Mr Dyer said.
The National Wind Farm Commissioner’s three-year term – which began in late 2015 with $2 million funding – followed a Senate inquiry prompted in part by efforts of a few anti-wind turbine groups.
Fears by supporters of renewable energy that the commission may have spurred an uptick in opposition to wind farms have largely been allayed, with the role now seen as helping developers understand and respond better to community concerns.
Simon Chapman, whose upcoming book, Wind turbine syndrome: A communicated disease, describes the number of complaints as “desultory”, said opposition to the industry from the cross-bench senators had backfired…….
Booming industry
Fairfax Media understands that some complaints originated from cases where landholders had expectations of hosting turbines and subsequently were denied that chance due to factors beyond their control.
A number of complaints citing a wind farm as at fault for a particular issue were resolved after the root cause of the problem was found to be something completely different. These complaints ranged from health-related matters through to poor television reception…….http://www.theage.com.au/environment/desultory-wind-farm-complaints-arent-keeping-up-with-surging-industry-20171116-gzn3q2.html
AGL to expand energy plan that allows householders to sell or share excess solar power
South Australia’s biggest electricity company AGL has announced the successful trial and expansion of a so-called “peer-to-peer” trading scheme in Adelaide, which uses an app to share the power. ….(subscribers only)
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/agl-to-expand-energy-plan-that-allows-householders-to-sell-or-share-excess-solar-power/news-story/7cadc833f2a17ce0a77de24509925296
Canberra stood out at Bonn climate talks as a progressive city, adopting renewable energy
Canberra climate action on show at UN talks in Germany, Canberra Times, 19 Nov 17, Tom McIlroy The role of cities like Canberra in affecting progress against global warming has been considered in the latest United Nations climate talks, with experts welcoming “a groundswell” of innovation.
World leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and environment advocates gathered in the former German capital of Bonn last week for the 23rd conference for signatories to the UN Convention on Climate Change.
University of Canberra chair of Urban and Regional Planning Barbara Norman said a key message from the talks had been how mayors, governors and regional leaders could work together to create large-scale change, boosting wider efforts on a national and international basis.
Professor Norman said powering cities with 100 per cent renewable electricity, building integrated transport systems, designing green precincts and environmentally sustainable developments were key to meaningful progress……….
Chair of the ACT Climate Change Council, she said Canberra stood out among cities involved in an international cooperation network, including because the territory was on track to achieve its target of 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2020……..http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-climate-action-on-show-at-un-talks-in-germany-20171118-gzoam8.html
1 This month
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes – A good documentary on Chernobyl on SBS available On Demand for the next 3 weeks– https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/chernobyl-the-lost-tapes/235274195556
19 May – Webinar- Webinar: No Nuclear Weapons in Australia
Start: 2026-05-19 18:00:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
End: 2026-05-19 19:30:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
20 May – Webinar – The dangerous world of AUKUS, US, military occupation and suppression of dissent
National Webinar, 20th May, 2026, 6.30pm AEST. Confronting laws restricting/suppressing protest speech and action
Speakers: Former Sen. Rex Patrick, Lawyer Nick Hanna ,Arthur Rorris ,Jorgen Doyle, Sen David Shoebbridge,
Facilitator Kelley Tranter.
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 