Queensland’s Premier blames rising electricity prices on solar energy: this doesn’t ring true
Newman playing dangerous game of solar politics REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson 25 February 2013 Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and his team feigned to receive the shock of their lives when the Queensland Competition Authority delivered its recommended 21 per cent price hike for the 2013/14 year.
And there were no prizes for guessing who Newman would blame – rooftop solar, the carbon price and the federal Government. Anyone but himself, and his own team.
Queensland consumers should be worried about rising electricity prices. But they should be more concerned about a government that clings to a century old energy system, is relying on short-term bandaid solutions such as price freezes, and is refusing to adapt or embrace to the new technologies and business models that will deliver the cost-effective solutions of the future.
Solar, carbon, and Gillard are easy targets to wrap up in a sound bite and a newspaper or internet headline. But by sheeting the blame on renewables, and by appearing more focused on protecting the revenues of the state-owned network providers and generators – possibly because those assets are up for sale – Newman is digging himself into an even bigger hole and causing even greater pain for the public.
Energy experts say the Newman policy cocktail – a combination of state subsidies on electricity use, price freezes, tariff designs that add fixed costs and do not encourage peak demand reduction or energy efficiency, and his choice of demonising new technology rather than embracing it, will simply accelerate a spiral towards stranded assets rather than an efficient network.
Even the QCA got into the anti-renewable rhetoric late last week, suggesting in its press release that the increases were partly the result of the rising cost of renewable energy targets. But its own report tells us the opposite is true. The cost of the large scale target is steady (and might produce some benefit to the state if it bothered to actually built something), and the costs of the small scale scheme (rooftop solar PV and solar hot water) will fall by 17.1%, according to the QCA figures….. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/newman-playing-dangerous-game-of-solar-politics-21866
Mildura area(Victoria) to get revolutionary new solar spin cell project
Solar Spin Cells To Be Manufactured Near Mildura http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3609, 25 Feb 13, A major solar project has been announced for north-west Victoria’s large-scale industrial hub at Thurla, south of Mildura. SIL Global Limited (SILG) has acquired a 20-acre site at Thurla Industrial Park and a licence to manufacture solar products for the US technology developer V3Solar Corporation.
Construction of the manufacturing and assembly plant will begin this year says President of V3 Solar, Michael Neistat.
“The facility will enable production of spin cells for the second stage of the SILG solar power generation plant. The plant will allow us to implement our plan to build a solar generation plant comprising 800,000 spin cell units – the largest power station of its type in the world.”
The Thurla Industrial Park is evolving as a hub for large-scale industrial development in north west Victoria and the estate’s developer, Col Beasley, says the new interest from solar heralds what will be the strongest year of employment and economic growth in the park’s history.
“The new players in the solar field are going to be the catalyst for a lot of other industries going in out here,” he said. “It’s exciting that the vision we had when we started the industrial estate is starting to come together now.”
The Thurla Industrial Park has attracted a strong mix of industrial and technology clients, due mainly to its location and large lot sizes.
“We’re getting more and more inquiries. It’s been surprisingly strong and seems to be generated mostly by these solar announcements and by our location as a cross-road between Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide,” Mr Beasley said.
Thurla Industrial Park is located at Red Cliffs in Victoria’s Sunraysia region, 16 km south of Mildura and 544 km north-west of Melbourne.
Queenslanders to get huge hike in electricity prices – but they can still go solar
Electricity Bills In Queensland To Jump 21% http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3608 25 Feb 13, Electricity bills in Queensland look set to rise again from July 1 for households and businesses; with low consumption households feeling the biggest effects.
A draft determination by the Queensland Competition Authority shows an increase in annual bills for average households on Tariff 11 of $253 a year.
Businesses in Queensland will bear the burden of a 12% – 16% rise.
The main components in the increase are related to network costs followed by retailer costs.
Households that have been particularly energy efficient will be punished under the proposed increases.
“Previously, the Tariff 11 service charge has been too low and the usage charge has been too high. So low-use customers have not been paying enough to
cover the costs of their supply and high-use customers have been paying more than the cost of their supply,” says the QCA
“This is changing, so that customers’ bills better reflect the costs of their electricity use. As a result, low consumption customers will see a high percentage increase in their bill as the fixed service fee is increased.”
The QCA is seeking feedback on the draft determination and its Final Determination will be released by the end of May 2013.
The added financial burden could see more households making the switch to solar; particularly among the 42,000 Queenslanders who were approved for the 44c feed in tariff last year; but are yet to install a system.
According to data from national solar provider Energy Matters, applicants that gained approval for the 44c feed in tariff last year could miss out on over $70,000 in financial benefits over the life of a 5kW solar power system if they fail to have an array installed by the deadline.
Energy Matters states applicants do not have to purchase their system from the solar company noted on the original application. With a rush on installation bookings expected to start soon, the company encourages applicants to call Energy Matters on 133 SUN (133 786) for further details.
For those who didn’t receive approval for the 44c, installing solar is still an effective way to reduce electricity bills. For example, Energy Matters states a 3kW system installed in Queensland can provide $1,066 – $1,470 in electricity bill savings annually.
Corporate mining giants funded Aboriginal leader, Marcia Langton’s pro mining lectures
Marcia Langton defends non-disclosure on mining cash before Boyers, Crikey.com, ANDREW CROOK | FEB 22, 2013
The academic background to last year’s Boyer Lectures was funded by global miners Rio Tinto and Woodside. But the audience was none the wiser. Should she and the ABC have disclosed?
Indigenous leader Marcia Langton and the ABC have defended a lack of disclosure over last year’s Boyer Lectures, despite tens of thousands of dollars in cash for Langton’s academic research being sourced from resources giants Rio Tinto, Woodside and Santos.
The series of five Boyers, titled “The Quiet Revolution: Indigenous People and the Resources Boom”, were delivered late last year by Langton at the ABC’s Brisbane studios and beamed around the country on Radio National.
They argued the boom had substantively benefited indigenous communities, with Langton lauding the work of a number of corporate behemoths — notably Rio — in providing job opportunities and friendly chop-outs. One lecture featured a full frontal attack on the “conceit” of anti-mining greenies.
But what listeners weren’t aware of was that two of the companies Langton praised were also bankrolling her. Continue reading
Ben Zygier was betrayed
Ben Zygier didn’t betray his country. Ben Zygier was betrayed. Between his two home countries, he was placed in a situation he couldn’t deal with.
Israel allowed itself to cross three boundaries: a Mossad man was asked to retain Australian citizenship – leading to a dual-loyalty dilemma; the identity that he was instructed to use as a cover was his real Australian identity; and, worst of all, he was sent to operate in his homeland.
The prime minister must send a letter to the Zygier family – that have been broken by their son’s breakdown – saying, “Your son was not a traitor.”.
Ben Zygier was no traitor, he was betrayed, Haaretz, 22 Feb 13, By Sefi Rachlevsky He wanted to contribute to Israel and did not mean to betray both his homelands, or his father for that matter. Israel cast him into a situation from which he could only be liberated by death..
… The fundamentals of its [Israel’s]power have not changed since David Ben Gurion established them: might, the support of friendly powers, the mobilization of world Jewry that can also influence their home countries, and the memory of the Holocaust. But the Zygier affair highlights how in an existential moment, Israel isn’t “only” immoral, but tramples arrogantly over these fundamentals without observing any boundaries…..
Western Australia: Greens show a practical plan for transition to renewable energy
Renewable energy could have a major impact on Western Australia http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/renewable-energy-could-have-a-major-impact-on-
western-australia/859050/ BY
– FEBRUARY 21, 2013
State could reach 100% energy sustainability through solar and windWestern Australia is one of the largest energy consumers in the world. The state relies heavily on fossil-fuels, such as coal, but has been working to adopt renewable energy in recent years. According to the Greens, the state can meet its energy needs in a variety of ways that do not involve the use of fossil-fuels. The document released by the Greens highlights solar thermal and storage technologies as an adequate way for the South West Interconnected System. Western Australia’s expansive energy utility, to break away from fossil-fuels. Another option is to use photovoltaic solar energy systems and wind energy.
Costs of renewable energy considered viableThe cost for solar and wind energy has dropped significantly over the past two years. The Greens suggest that no major advances in technology are required for Western Australia to reap the economic benefits of adopting renewable energy. According to the political party, renewable energy in the region can range from $208 to $221 per megawatt-hour. This estimation represents a $60 billion upfront cost for the state to expand its use of solar and wind energy. The cost may be high, but the Greens suggest that it is significantly lower than the costs associated with a continued focus on fossil-fuels.
Politics likely to dictate future of renewable powerAs Australia’s smallest political party, the Greens have limited influence over the adoption of renewable energy throughout the country. This is particularly problematic because renewable energy is often made into a political issue rather than one of sustainability or economics. The Greens study of renewable energy and its potential to help Western Australia reach 100% energy sustainability has, nonetheless, generated a fair amount of hype in the political space.
A win win situation – carbon economy enables conservation, with early fire practices in Australia’s Northern Territory
There is little doubt that the new carbon economy is transforming fire and biodiversity management across northern Australia. Many areas managed for biodiversity conservation can now generate a substantial income beyond the public purse. This will surely allow the further privatisation of biodiversity conservation, at a time when non-government organisations are already playing an increasingly central, and indeed successful, role in conservation in northern Australia.
Implementing biodiversity-friendly fire regimes remains an enormous management challenge in the north. Although the carbon economy is unlikely to be a panacea, it certainly provides a much-needed income stream for sustainable land management, especially for the vast lands outside of the traditional conservation estate.
Savanna burning: carbon pays for conservation in northern Australia http://theconversation.edu.au/savanna-burning-carbon-pays-for-conservation-in-northern-australia-12185 22 Feb 13, Fire and biodiversity have a complex relationship in northern Australia. Tim Flannery and others blame the current northern biodiversity crisis, at least in part, on changed fire regimes. Improving fire management is critical to conserving savanna landscapes – but who pays for it? A new funding model, tapping into the carbon economy, has emerged in the far north and is rapidly transforming fire management and biodiversity conservation.
A new funding model for fire management
The idea that land management could be funded by carbon credits emerged from Aboriginal-owned Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. By the 1990s it was clear that the region’s enormous biodiversity values were being eroded by frequent, intense late dry season fires.
To address this problem, a trailblazing group of Western scientists and land managers, and Aboriginal Traditional Owners developed a program of prescribed burning early in the dry season to pre-empt large, intense wildfires late in the dry season.
The most innovative part of their work was to link improvements in fire management to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. They also realised that this emissions reduction (or abatement) could be used to secure resources for land management. The abatement occurs because early dry season fires tend to be patchier and less intense than late season fires, and therefore burn less fuel. Because less fuel is burnt, fewer emissions are produced.
The project that resulted from this early work – the 28,000 km²West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement project – has operated since 2005 and is funded by one of the world’s largest energy companies, ConocoPhillips. They provide $1 million annually in return for an abatement of greenhouse gases equivalent to 100,000 t of CO₂. Continue reading
Deep and stubborn silence by Australian and Israeli governments about Ben Zygier’s death
Ben Zygier: the silence surrounding Prisoner X The Conversation, Felix Patrikeeff 22 February 2013, When Melbourne man Ben Zygier, an alleged agent of Mossad, or perhaps a double agent, died in December 2010, his end was barely perceptible.
He had been held anonymously in solitary confinement at a high-security prison in Israel. A notice of his death appeared on the Internet, and then promptly disappeared. His name was not made known at the time.
It had to be secured by Australian investigative journalists. Continue reading
Arnhem Land traditional owner opposes fracking on his land
“In many ways, it’s an uncontrolled experiment on the Australian environment”
The meeting was told that about 80 per cent of Territory land and 90 per cent of its coastline are subject to mining exploration applications of some kind.
Shale gas ‘fracking’ fractures views in Top END By Andrew Thompson | ABC , 22 Feb 13, The head of an anti-fracking community group based in the eastern states has warned against the development of the shale gas industry in the Northern Territory.Farming, fishing, pastoral and environmental groups were among those represented at a Darwin meeting to discuss the controversial underground mining technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Continue reading
Renewable energy yes! including household rooftop solar – says University of Queensland
Renewable energy critical for competitive Australian power system- University of Queensland, 22 Feb 13, An immediate investment in multiple energy technologies is vital for meeting carbon abatement targets and building a robust power system, a new study from the Global Change Institute at The University of Queensland has found.
• The resilience of Australia’s power system is currently poor (better only than India and South Africa) and is not compensated by low electricity costs.
• Even with a high carbon price, the power system is not on-track to cut emissions by 80%, in line Australia’s 2050 emissions targets*.
• There is no cost premium associated with shifting from ‘business-as-usual’ to renewable, distributed generation and carbon capture and storage. There is, however, evidence of a cost premium for shifting away from coal.
• Australia will benefit from investment in large-scale renewable energy projects to operate alongside coal in the foreseeable future and eventually replace the role of coal.
• Consumer action must not be overlooked and will be an integral part of any successful model, however an in-depth study into the effect of distributed generation (eg household rooftop solar panels) on the distribution network is urgent and overdue. ….. http://www.uq.edu.au/news/?article=25857
NUCLEAR VETERANS APPEAL TO AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Frank Walker, 21 Feb 13, Lawyers representing 295 military veterans and their families afflicted with terrible health problems due to the British nuclear tests carried out in Australia between 1952 and 1963 are taking the case to the Australian Human Rights Commission.
They argue the Menzies government breached their human rights by ordering them to be exposed to the harmful effects of radiation in full knowledge of the potential damage to their health.
Joshua Dale, a human rights law specialist at Stacks/Goudkamp in Sydney, said the decision to host the nuclear tests and order Australians to be used as virtual guinea pigs breached three articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that Australia signed at the United Nations in 1948.
They are:
Article 3: The right to life, liberty and security of person.
Article 5: The right not to be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 25: The right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services……
“We’ve been fighting for redress for nuclear veterans and their families for years, but after the UK courts rejected an appeal for damages last year we’ve embarked on this one last avenue for justice,” Mr Dale said.
“We hope the AHRC will examine the case and recommend to the government that it right the wrongs that have been done to these people over decades, and provide compensation and the gold card for medical assistance.
“The nuclear veterans have suffered higher death rates, higher cancer rates and worse health problems than the general population. The effects of the nuclear tests are still going on today. Many effects of radiation are hereditary, and children and grandchildren of the nuclear veterans have been afflicted with health problems and deformities.”
NUCLEAR VETERANS CASE BACKGROUND INFORMATION Continue reading
Australian Greens support call to Human Rights Commission, for justice for Maralinga atomic bomb test veterans
Justice for nuclear testing victims is long overdue http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/justice-nuclear-testing-victims-long-overdue 21 Feb 2013 | The Greens today expressed support for the bid by Australian veterans exposed to British nuclear tests in Australia to secure compensation through the Human Rights Commission, and renewed their call for the British to compensate all victims of atomic weapons testing.
Greens spokesperson for nuclear policy Senator Scott Ludlam wrote to the office of British Foreign Secretary William Hague five weeks ago urging him to give Act of Grace payments to the victims and wrote to Mr Hague again today.
“The hopes of Australians exposed to nuclear testing were dealt a blow by a UK court ruling against compensation in January. The people exposed to the testing at Maralinga and other sites have been denied adequate compensation on onerous and fastidious technical grounds. Justice has been delayed too long,” said Senator Ludlam.
“The Menzies Government knew these people would be exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. The findings of the 1984-1985 Royal Commission support the claim that the Australian authorities, along with the British, deliberately put Australian personnel in harm’s way, and certainly showed no regard for the Aboriginal people living in the area.
“The human rights of those subjected to this treatment were violated. They and their children have paid a terrible price in terms of radiation-induced illness. The Australian personnel involved have proven to be 23 per cent more likely to have cancer than the general population, and 18 per cent more likely to die from cancer.
“The people exposed to the tests were done a great wrong and time is of the essence. They should not incur further indignity due to inability to pay medical costs, nor the further expense and delay of the legal pursuit of long-overdue justice.
“This blight on the history of both the United Kingdom and Australia has gone on too long and the opportunity to make things right will pass us by unless taken now.”
Aboriginal community leaders refute Marcia Langton’s claim that minng is the solution to Aboriginal progress
As Aboriginal community based leaders we take issue with Professor Langton’s suggestion that
embracing mining is a positive option for Aboriginal people if they are to engage with the modern
economy. In her lectures Professor Langton paints a rosy picture of the services and employment
which some mining companies offer Aboriginal people as part of Native Title ‘agreements’. There
is only passing reference to the fact that Native Title does not allow Aboriginal people to say no
to mining.
Mining is inherently short term but the problems it brings to country last well beyond the life of
any mine.
Peter Watts (Arabana)
Mitch (Aranda/Luritja)
Kado Muir (Wongutha) 4 Feb 13, We write as co-chairs of the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) in response to recent
comments by Professor Marcia Langton in her Boyer Lecture series “Indigenous People and the
Resources Boom”. ANFA brings together Aboriginal people, environment, health groups and trade
union representatives to discuss the impacts of the nuclear industry on land and communities.
ANFA opposes uranium mining, exploration and the dumping of radioactive waste on Aboriginal
land.
Uranium mining, exploration and the dumping of radioactive waste on Aboriginal land is
detrimental to the health of Aboriginal people, Aboriginal lands and our collective environments.
Mining generally is an extractive industry that by its very nature destroys land often at the
expense of spiritual and cultural connections of Aboriginal people. Income generated from mining
comes at a cost and often ignores the possibility of creating alternative sustainable economic
opportunities that need not rely on extraction as its primary economic base. Continue reading
Australia’s Labor Party lurches to the Right- example Paul Howes attack on The Greens
I always thought that Paul Howes had his own political career firmly in mind. Now, as the Greens sever their support from
Labor, Howes sees an opportunity to move up in the Party, as it wobbles its way further to the Right.
Howes has previously compared The Greens to the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) which brought about a traumatic split within Labor.
Howes does not seem to grasp the fact that The Greens have a very clear agenda for a sustainable economy, providing both jobs and the very basis of the economy, a clean environment. Today, Howes criticises the fact that the Greens support polices towards those aims, whether those polices are Labor’s or Liberals. They have no obligation to mindlessly support Labor, as Howes seems to think.
In an interview with Tony Jones, on ABC Lateline ( http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-20/howes-calls-for-greens-destruction/4530952?section=qld) Howes calls for Greens’ destruction,
In a fairly vitriolic attack on Greens leader, Christine Milne, Howes praises the Mineral Resources Rent Tax, but fails completely to refute Christine Milnes very clear exposition of the reasons why this tax is a failure.
“…..TONY JONES: Now in July of last year when the Labor/Green alliance was still very much alive you described the Greens as “extremists who threaten Australia’s democracy” and that the Labor Party, you said, “should concentrate its efforts on destroying them”. Will that now happen?
PAUL HOWES: Absolutely…….
TONY JONES:……this is what Bob Brown says, “the increasingly powerful Howesian Labor cause has a simple political recipe to prefer the Liberals over the Greens”. What do you say to that?
PAUL HOWES: Howesian! I’d rather be a Howesian than an Earthian…..
..the Greens are no different than the Liberals insomuch as they are a political party that stands for values that are fundamentally different to the values of the Labor Party…”
Engineers Australia (IEAust) wants greater greenhouse cuts, and a big shift to renewable energy
Engineers Australia Advocates 80 Per Cent Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions http://designbuildsource.com.au/engineers-australia-advocates-80-per-cent-reduction-in-greenhouse-gas-emissions By Marc Howe, 19 Feb 13, A submission by Engineers Australia (IEAust) to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) endorses ambitious new targets for reductions in the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century.
The new benchmarks target a reduction of 25 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050 based on 2000 levels. These declines are believed to be necessary for Australia to make a meaningful contribution to international efforts to keep emissions within 450 ppm of equivalent carbon dioxide (CO2-e), and ensure that global average temperature gains are kept within two degrees Celsius.
In addition to supporting the new set of targets, the Sustainable Engineering Society strongly advocates a stricter target of 350ppm CO2-e, due to uncertainty over whether the 450ppm target will be sufficient to limit worrying gains in global temperature levels.
The professional engineering body also supports the concomitant shift to renewable energies that such ambitious reductions in CO2 emissions will necessitate. Continue reading
1 This month.
20 September –National Day of Action in Melbourne on the International Day of Peace
Help Aunty Sue Protect Her Land and Sacred Sites From Destructive Rocket Testing.
.
Australians deserve the truth
about
AUKUS – https://aukuspublicinquiry.com/
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 