Join in the solar chorus, says council, as North Melbourne gets on the ball http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/join-in-the-solar-chorus-says-council-as-north-melbourne-gets-on-the-ball-20160807-gqmtz2.html, Clay Lucas Councillor Arron Wood can understand why more businesses don’t put solar panels on their roof.
It’s not because they don’t want to save money. And it’s not because they don’t want to do the right thing. “The biggest barrier to wider uptake [of solar power] is the complexity of going through the process,” says Cr Wood, the chairman of Melbourne City Council’s environment committee.
Which is why, he says, opening North Melbourne Football Club’s new solar panel bank – 800 panels set across the club’s roof and that of the neighbouring council-run recreation centre – is a major breakthrough.
“There’s this sense that footy speaks to all parts of life in Melbourne, so partnering with … North Melbourne footy club might drive others to think ‘Maybe this is something we can do’,” he says.
The panels on the club’s roof will produce enough electricity per year to run 70 average Melbourne homes. North Melbourne’s chief executive Carl Dilena said the club expected to cut its energy use by almost a quarter as a result of installing the solar panels.
But as many Melbourne home owners know, solar does not always come cheap, at least initially. The system cost almost half a million dollars to install, and was partly financed by the council, via the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. The club contributed about $67,000 of the funding, with the rest coming from the city council.
It is the first partnership the council has undertaken with an outside party – all other installations it has done have been on council-owned building rooftops.
The council is working with Sustainability Victoria to find businesses interested in reducing either emissions or energy bills that have previously considered going solar.
“The driver for a lot of businesses isn’t saving the environment, it’s to save dollars and that’s completely fine,” says Cr Wood.
Solar could be game changer for rural communities going off the grid, ABC News By Kathryn Diss , 7 Aug 16 For decades, farmers in Western Australia’s south have put up with the most unreliable electricity supply in the state, now they are about to find out if they can live off-grid, surviving on solar power instead.
Key points:
Farmers in Western Australia are investigating using stand-alone solar power systems
Solar battery technology is making this more easily achieved, and the State Government will pay for it
Power-supply to south west WA has been unreliable, a problem in other regional areas
Ros and Bernie Giles are part of a handful of farming families giving the technology a crack after living through years of frustration at their farm in West River, 500 kilometres south of Perth.
“Summer is our worst time, we seem to have more fluctuations then,” Ms Giles said……
Power problems span farmland across nation
WA’s south west grid spans more than 250,000 square kilometres, an area the size of the United Kingdom, yet it only services a 50th of the population, making it unreliable and expensive to maintain.
But the power problems faced by the people of West River are hardly unique.
Matthew Warren heads up the Australian Energy Council, which formed earlier this year to respond to the world’s rapidly changing energy market.
He said most edge-of-grid communities around the nation suffered the same problems……….
Renewable energy reaches tipping point
The move by WA’s Liberal-National Government to invest in the technology is seen as a step towards a greener future.
Carteret climate refugees seek homeA grassroots group in Bougainville is scrambling to relocate the Carteret Islanders before rising sea levels swallow their land forever. ABC News 7 Aug 16 By Lauren Beldi for Pacific BeatAt only 1.5 metres above sea level at their highest point, the Carteret Islands are some of the first to succumb to the rising ocean tides.
The grassroots Tulele Peisa group, which means “sailing the waves on our own” in the local Halia language, is hoping to relocate more than half of the population by 2020. They have secured land for new homes on the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, to the east of mainland Papua New Guinea.
Tulele Peisa formed in late 2006 after the Council of Elders on the islands decided to establish their own relocation program. The group’s chief executive, Ursula Rakova, says the encroaching tides on the islands have a major impact on people’s health. “We’re beginning to get more requests for people wanting to move because of the situation and the dire need for food,” she says.
The storm surges not only wash away houses, but also vegetable gardens, which are critical for the islanders’ survival.
With no cash economy on the Carterets, the only source of food is what people are able to grow for themselves……
Tulele Peisa has also provided thousands of mangrove seedlings to prevent the erosion of the coastline, and helped to build raised garden beds. But this will only stave off the inevitable for so long.
“Those are adaptation strategies, they aren’t really long-term solutions to containing the islands, because we know the islands are going, but we are looking at supporting our families,” Ms Rakova says.
She says the islanders want to maintain their independent way of living but that the international community should provide more support.
“The islanders on the Carterets are victims of what other people have caused and the international community needs to aid and support the work that we are doing,” she says.
Will the SA legislative prohibitions on nuclear waste dumps be included?
“SIMPLIFY DAY
The Premier has announced that the first ‘Simplify Day’ will be held on 15 November, 2016 to repeal out-dated and redundant legislation that impacts on the Government’s ability to deliver on its 10 Economic Priorities.
In the lead-up to Simplify Day a consultation process is being held to seek the views of businesses and the community on how red tape can be removed for businesses, including any legislation that may be outdated or unnecessary.
Should you wish to know more about this initiative or make a submission visit the YourSAY website at www.yoursay.sa.gov.au. The consultation period is open until 13 August, 2016.”
Cindy K. HoskinFight To Stop Nuclear Waste In The Flinders Ranges https://www.facebook.com/groups/941313402573199/August 2 Here is the latest from port pirie. Tonight there is a paid invited meeting for nuclear in port pirie. A business man was rang on his moble and offered payment to attend, they asked his age which is 48, their reply was that they had enough over the 45 age limit and were seeking people under that age. Has any one else heard this? I have the number that this call came from if any one is interested.
Kim Mavromatis yeh, I had a phone call yesterday as well – they were going to pay $75 for my attendance – meeting in pirie tonoght or tomorrow? – but i didn’t quality cause they wanted someone under 45 – next time i’ll lie about my age – sneaky, underhanded, worms
Brenton Barnes If they want to pay young people to attend a community meeting maybe they should round up high school students. They would gladly take the money and not put up any fight.
Adelaide charges ahead with world’s largest ‘virtual power plant’ AGL project to roll out 1,000 battery systems to homes and businesses will operate like a 5MW plant, and optimise energy produced from solar panels, Guardian, Michael Slezak, 5 Aug 16, Adelaide will be home to the world’s largest “virtual power plant” – AGL is rolling out 1,000 battery systems to homes and businesses, with backing from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena).
AGL and Arena say the project will improve network security and dampen a volatile wholesale electricity price in South Australia. However, an energy expert says that at the current size, the system will have a minimal impact on network security or wholesale prices, but might pose a challenge to the revenues of companies that own the poles and wires.
Offered to homes and businesses with solar systems, the $20m AGL project, backed with $5m from Arena, will operate like a 5MW peaking power plant, providing power to homes and businesses during periods at optimal times.
The chief executive of AGL, Andy Vesey, told Guardian Australia: “The beauty of the project is it’s being done over 1,000 batteries, and that’s how we deliver an aggregate benefit to the grid itself.
“But for the consumer, it will have the value of the battery. And it’s being priced at a way that a good investment decision could be made. We’re viewing that the average savings for someone who has rooftop solar right now would be $500 a year. It’s really a way of optimising the energy produced out of their solar panel.”
The system will cost $3,500, and AGL estimates it will take about seven years for solar customers to recover the costs.
Arena’s chief executive, Ivor Frischknecht, said the project would boost grid stability, reduce power price volatility and support the expansion of renewable energy……..
As a demonstration of something that could be bigger, McConnell said one of the biggest impacts of the business model could be on how the networks recover the costs of the poles and wires.
About half the cost of a home energy bill is linked to the network’s cost recovery of its poles and wires. McConnell said that meant a lot of the money being saved by consumers was actually done by avoiding paying the network costs. And that’s what AGL is relying on for its business model.
Rio Tinto snubbed by Pilbara’s Aboriginal elder, The Australian, s Andrew Burrell The Australian Business Review. August 6, 2016
“Unfortunately, we cannot stand here today and welcome you to country when our people are worse off than when no mining existed,” the elders said.
Aboriginal elders refused to perform a “welcome to country” ceremony at a Rio Tinto (RIO) function to mark the company’s 50-year anniversary of mining in the Pilbara in a protest over what they say is a failure to pay royalties and create jobs for indigenous communities.
In an embarrassing snub, the Eastern Guruma native title holders instead took to the stage at the event in Tom Price to attack Rio’s record in the Pilbara.
Rio has long touted its credentials on indigenous issues, describing itself as one of the largest private sector employers of indigenous Australians.
The company has no legal obligation to pay mining royalties to the native title holders on six of its Pilbara mines because they were established before the Native Title Act came into effect in 1994.
At the recent function, three of the Eastern Guruma elders — Sue Boyd, July Hicks and Judith Hughes — refused to perform a “welcome to country” ceremony that is commonly used by traditional owners to welcome visitors to their land.
“Unfortunately, we cannot stand here today and welcome you to country when our people are worse off than when no mining existed,” the elders said.
“We are not being paid compensation for three Rio Tinto mines operating on our country. We are not being employed. We are not getting the contracts and business opportunities that the mining industry prides itself on.
“Outcomes for the Eastern Guruma people have been poor.
“Traditional Owners at Yeelirrie have fought against uranium mining for over 40 years.
The decision from the EPA comes as welcome relief but Traditional Owners remain wary.
“Richard Evans Koara elder and co-founder of the West Australian Nuclear Free Alliance has said “The EPA decision to protect subterranean fauna is a good decision and the right decision and we are happy with the outcome.
But we believe the EPA has underestimated the risk to bush foods, public health and water and most importantly our cultural heritage and our community’s opposition to the mine.”
“I invite the Minister (who has never spoken to us before) to come and meet with us the Traditional Owners of Yeelirrie before making a decision about our country. No Minister has come to talk to us about that country.
Yeelirrie is an important place in our culture, it is a dreaming site it important to us and other tribes around us.
In the short time since WA was colonised there have been drastic changes to the ecosystem and the country.” …
“It’s not just about protecting this country for us – but uranium threatens communities and country from the cradle to the grave, at home and overseas.
This is our responsibility and we take that responsibility seriously. We have to leave this poison where it is.” … “
The Greens have urged WA Environment minister Albert Jacobs to uphold the EPA’s advice to reject the controversial Yeelirrie uranium in the Goldfields of WA.
“The Yeelirrie uranium mine was first proposed in the 1970’s and has faced strong local and state wide community opposition for decades,” said Greens nuclear spokesperson Scott Ludlam.
“Today’s decision by the EPA should be the final nail in a proposal that should never have seen the light of day.
“The onus is now on Albert Jacobs to score a rare win for the WA environment and shut this proposal down once and for all.”
Senator Ludlam congratulated pastoralists, anti-nuclear campaigners and local Traditional Owners for their tireless work to oppose a project that would have been an environmental disaster.
Malcolm Roberts: One Nation senator-elect says UN trying to impose global government through climate chance policy, ABC News, By political reporters Stephanie Anderson and Matthew Doran, 4 Aug 16 New One Nation senator-elect Malcolm Roberts has argued the United Nations is trying to impose global government through climate change policy.
Mr Roberts is one of three One Nation senators joining party leader Pauline Hanson in the new-look Upper House, after the final vote count was finalised today.
In an interview on ABC local radio, Mr Roberts said there were a number of movements undermining Australian sovereignty.
“Do you think the UN’s trying to impose some sort of global government through climate change policy?” 774 ABC Melbourne host Rafael Epstein asked.
“Definitely,” replied Mr Roberts……….
United Nations ‘driving’ climate scienceMr Roberts, a prominent climate change sceptic with the Galileo Movement, also renewed calls for an inquiry into CSIRO’s climate change research.
Mr Roberts, whose latest press release stated that he “spent the last nine years working pro bono checking alarmist climate claims”, said he wanted to repeal any legislation put in place “as a result of the claim that humans affect global climate as a result of our use of hydrocarbons fuels, coal, oil, natural gas”.
Describing himself as a scientist, he said “we need to stop these ridiculous lies based on climate”.
“I went looking into the agencies that have been spreading the climate science,” he said.
“I started finding out things about the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology.
“That led me then to the UN, which has been driving this.
“On ABC’s Q&A last night, National Party Senator, Matthew Canavan – the ‘Minister for Adani’– made a vague reference to “native title” groups’ near unanimous support for the proposed Carmichael mine.
He complained that the media doesn’t cover such supposed ‘good news’, as though his Government’s interests are not constantly boosted in the press. …
“What the Minister failed to mention, or referred to only obliquely, is that we have several legal cases running to demonstrate that Adani does not have our free, prior, informed consent, they have engaged in conduct ‘analogous to fraud’ and that, along with the State and some statutory representatives,manipulated the native title process to override our rights and interests and divide our people. … “
CSIRO’s renewed climate change focus will not reverse damage done by job cuts: scientists, ABC News, PM , 4 Aug 16 By Felicity Ogilvie and staff Some of Australia’s top climate scientists say new instructions given to the CSIRO to renew its focus on climate science will not be enough to reverse the damage done by previous jobs cuts.
Climate scientists from around the country, meeting in Hobart to discuss how climate change will affect Australia’s future, say they are having a hard time keeping up with the changes in how climate science at the CSIRO is being run.
CSIRO Fellow Dr John Church, an expert in estimating and understanding global and regional sea-level rise, is one of the 275 CSIRO scientists who are losing their jobs.
“This is only a step in the right direction, it certainly doesn’t recover all the positions that have been lost,” Dr Church told PM.
University of Tasmania polar scientist Matt King said Dr Church was irreplaceable, and said he was finding it hard to digest the directive given by Mr Hunt…….
Dr Rintoul said damage had been done to Australia’s international reputation as a result of the CSIRO job cuts…….he also agreed that CSIRO staff losses would have a major negative impact on Australian research.
NATALIE KOTSIOS, The Weekly TimesAugust 4, 2016 VICTORIA should end its moratorium on unconventional gas because Australia needs more energy capacity, not less, says Federal Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg.
The Victorian MP maintained his stance against the moratorium this week, leading environmental critics to say he was out of step with the rest of the state — and his Victorian Coalition colleagues.
The State Government is preparing to release its gas policy, expected before parliament resumes on August 16. The Victorian Coalition has already said it wants the moratorium extended until 2020.
Mr Frydenberg first flagged his concern about Victoria‘s moratorium in February when he was resources and energy minister.
This week he said the shift away from coal was not a bad thing, but the South Australian energy crisis proved there was a need for a reliable base power source, which should be gas.
“We shouldn’t have blanket moratoriums on unconventional gas like we have in Victoria and NSW because you need more gas and gas suppliers,” he told the Australian Financial Review.
Friends of the Earth’s Cam Walker said this was “profoundly out of step” with Victoria, where 73 communities have declared themselves gas field-free, many in Coalition-held seats. “The argument that gas is a bridging and back-up fuel is outdated,” he said.
Kevin Scarce, head of SA’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle RC, also has a conflict of interest,Independent Australia, 4 August 2016,Given the public outcry over Brian Martin’s conflict of interest as head of the Royal Commission into Juvenile Justice in the NT, Noel Wauchopeasks why Kevin Scarce’s suitability as head of SA’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle RC wasn’t questioned……..
Brian Martin did not think that he had a conflict of interest in relation to his previous role as a Northern Territory judge. He did not doubt his “capacity to be both independent and competent in the role of the commissioner”. However, he recognised that a community perception of his having a conflict of interest would compromise the Royal Commission and its results.
‘Indeed, Martin acknowledged this [public confidence] was the crucial factor — irrespective of the facts. He observed if any public doubts about the impartiality or commitment to the unvarnished truth were allowed to “fester” during the commission’s long months, its outcomes would be compromised.’
Why no outcry about the conflict of interest in appointing Kevin Scarce as head of SA’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle RC?
Apparently, while it’s not OK to have a conflict of interest in a National Royal Commissioner, this has not yet been a problem for a State one…….
Unlike the situation with Brian Martin, this is not a case of a perception of conflict of interest by some special sections of the community. It looks more like a choice of a royal commissioner that is unusual and inappropriate and involving a much more obvious conflict of interest.
The general practice in royal commissions is to appoint a serving or retired judge, due to the quasi-legal nature of the process…….Kevin Scarce with no legal background, was a most unusual choice as royal commissioner for South Australia’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission. Furthermore, his military career and close involvement with defence agencies, raises questions about his impartiality…….
There is a strong defence lobby pushing for Australia to acquire nuclear powered submarines. Kevin Scarce was previously the head of Maritime Systems at the Defence Materiel Organisation.
Kevin Scarce is a shareholder in Rio Tinto Group, the owner and operator of Ranger and Rossing uranium mines in Australia and Namibia
2014 Investigator Lecture – Rear Admiral the Honourable Kevin Scarce AC CSC RAN Rtd
Will the outcome of the SA nuclear RC be compromised, given the criticisms so far?…..
The selection of pro nuclear advisers and speakers continued through the Royal Commission’s year-long proceedings and subsequent Citizens’ Jury sessions, as Independent Australia has shown in recent articles. ..
Numerous well researched criticisms sent to this Royal Commission seem to have been ignored. Kevin Scarce has dismissed opposition as based on emotion or opinion, rather than on facts,saying: “The debate has been formed upon fear…”
Cameco’s Yeerrilie uranium mine proposal knocked back in WA Goldfieldshttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-03/uranium-mine-proposal-knocked-back-in-wa/7685538Western Australia’s environmental watchdog has knocked back a proposed uranium mine in the state’s Goldfields, at the site of Australia’s largest uranium deposit.The Environmental Protection Agency said Cameco Australia’s Yeelirrie Uranium project could not meet one of the nine key environmental factors.
The Canadian company sought to mine up to 7,500 tonnes of uranium oxide concentrate per year from the Yeelirrie deposit, about 420 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and 70km south-west of Wiluna.
The facility was to include two open pits, processing facilities, roads, accommodation, stockpile and laydown areas.
It would have transported the uranium oxide by road for export through the Port of Adelaide.
The authority’s chairman, Dr Tom Hatton, said the assessment process was extensive and involved public consultation and a site visit. He said the proposal would threaten more than 70 species of underground fauna, known as “stygofauna”.
The EPA put the proposal up for public comment for 12 weeks, attracting 169 responses and a further 2,946 pro forma submissions.
The EPA gave a proposal for Western Australia’s first uranium mine the green light in 2012, the first to be approved since the lifting of a state ban on uranium mining in 2008. But the project, put forward by South Australian mining company Toro Energy, has stalled on the back of falling demand and global prices for the commodity.
Antinuclear 