Daylesford shows the way, for Australian community owned wind power
Community-owned wind powers up, ABC Environment | 2 AUG 2011 BY SUE WHITE With profits to be made from the provision of renewable electricity, an increasing number of savvy community groups around the world are pooling their resources to get in on the action.
The newly-installed turbines started generating on June 22, as Hepburn Wind begins its quest to create 12,200 megawatt hours (MWh) over the next 12 months – the equivalent of powering 2,300 homes. Hepburn Wind’s journey began in 2005….. Continue reading
BHP Billiton now in charge of South Australia’s uranium politics?
Roxby negotiations now hostage to ALP factional coup timeline, 01/08/11 The State Government has now handed over complete control of negotiations over the Olympic Dam expansion to BHP Billiton, say the Greens.“BHP Billiton can now dig their heels in and not give an inch on any aspect of the project knowing that the Premier and the Minister Foley are desperate for a deal before they are forced out,” said Greens Parliamentary leader Mark Parnell.
“The company isn’t in a hurry, but the Premier sure is. “What will happen now to previous commitments from the Government, such as processing in South Australia rather than China, and ensuring ‘world’s best practice in terms of the environment’ for the expansion?
“Will they be sacrificed in order to meet an artificial timeline set by the ALP back-room?” he asked.
Uranium mining to remain illegal in New South Wales
“Uranium mining and exploration is prohibited under the Uranium and Nuclear Facilities (Prohibitions) Act 1986.”
‘No plans’ to lift NSW uranium ban ABC Sydney – Australian Broadcasting Corporation August 01, 2011 The New South Wales Government is adamant it has no plans to overturn a state ban on uranium mining and exploration. Continue reading
Landscape Guardians – anything to stop action on Climate Change
I had the interesting experience of sitting through a recent Landscape Guardians meeting, with a panel of their “experts” including Randall Bell, in the small community of Barunah Park, west of Geelong.
“Any weapon” is what they use, and FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) tactics are their specialty…..the Guardians are part of the murky network of climate deniers, fossil fuel lobbyists, and hard-right Liberal party types. Their president has acknowledged they are waging a political battle against environmentalists.
Anti-wind power lobby: Farming fear, uncertainty and doubt, Green Left Weekly, July 30, 2011 , By Ben Courtice, The ABC’s Four Corners on July 25 showcased the national debate around wind farms’ alleged negative health effects.
It patiently allowed the anti-wind power Waubra Foundation to walk the audience through their case that wind farms are a health hazard. Many people I have met are curious to know if there is any truth to the allegations. Continue reading
BHP Billiton’s Premier Rann determined to promote uranium mining
Premier Rann to step down after nine years, Michelle Grattan and Ben Doherty, The Age, August 1, 2011 VETERAN South Australian leader Mike Rann has agreed to step down in favour of his more popular Education Minister as the party tries to fight its way back from bad opinion polls.
But he wants to complete ”several key projects” – most importantly the go-ahead for the expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium mine – and has not given a date for quitting.
………Mr Rann said he had decided that ”a seamless transition to a new leader was the most appropriate course”.But before he stepped down ”I intend to conclude negotiations with BHP Billiton over the indenture agreement that will allow the expansion of the Olympic Dam mine project to proceed.” The project was vitally important to future generations of South Australians. ”It is now at a critical and sensitive stage and it is important that the new leader is brought into this complex process.”
Premier Rann to step down after nine years
Too much success for household solar power in Western Australia
WA solar rebate scheme too popular to continue, SMH, Courtney Trenwith, August 1, 2011, The WA government has axed one of the most successful household environmental programs – the solar panel rebate scheme – precisely because it was too popular.
No new applications will be accepted from today. More than 65,000 household solar panels have been installed since the scheme started in 2009…WA solar rebate scheme too popular to continue
UK court victory gives hope to Australia’s nuclear test veterans
Sydney law firm Stacks/Goudkamp is representing hundreds of Australian veterans of the British nuclear tests at Maralinga and Montebello Island conducted in the 1950s and early 1960s……“The decision of the English Supreme Court to allow the UK veterans of Maralinga to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision against their claims keeps alive the prospect that these veterans, who have been so shamelessly treated by their own government, may finally receive the compensation they deserve.
“It also keeps alive the claims for the Australian veterans who have been waiting for the outcome of the UK case before launching their own class action against the UK Ministry of Defence.”
Australian veterans of British nuclear tests hopes for compensation boosted by UK court decision, Frank Walker, 31 July 11, The hopes of hundreds of Australian military veterans of British nuclear tests seeking compensation from the UK Ministry of Defence got a boost overnight after a significant victory in the British courts. Continue reading
Julia Gillard’s Climate Change package looking like a winner
PM’s climate change loophole to stymie Abbott Sid Maher The Australian July 29, 2011 JULIA Gillard has moved to cement in law her climate change plan, including a default emissions reduction target of 12 million tonnes a year after 2016, forcing Tony Abbott to win approval of both houses of parliament if he is to vary the policy or proceed with his pledge to scrap the carbon tax. Continue reading
Future for decentralised solar power in Australia
”grid parity” – when unsubsidised solar energy becomes cost-competitive with power from the electricity grid – is getting devilishly close as the cost of photovoltaics (PV) falls…..
”If you can spend $500 and get $700 to $800 back, there won’t be a person in Australia that would ignore that,” Newman says. ”The PV [photovoltaic] retailers will be all over them, and the smart energy retailers will of course step into the game.” It might not be the cheapest form of abatement available to the economy but it’s money in the bank for the punter.
Future lies in power to (and from) the people, Sydney Morning Herald,Paddy Manning, July 30, 2011 It’s hard to tell whether the glass is half full or half empty for Australia’s solar industry right now…….. Continue reading
Poor uranium market puts Olympic Dam uranium mining future in doubt
BHP likely to stall Olympic Dam plans: report, Business Spectator, 28 Jul 2011 Analysts are predicting that BHP Billiton Ltd will delay uranium production at the Olympic Dam mine expansion in South Australia as a result of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan and ensuing uncertainty about the future of nuclear energy, according to The Australian.
Olympic Dam, home to the world’s largest known uranium deposit, is scheduled to be expanded beginning next year as part of a $US20 billion-plus ($A18.4 billion) expansion that is subject to company and government approval.
However, plans to boost uranium production by a third from current levels may be halted as uranium demand continues to weaken in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster…..http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/BHP-likely-to-stall-Olympic-Dam-plans-report-pd20110727-K6QRR?OpenDocument&src=hp9
South Australia’s bright future for renewable energy jobs
Renewable Energy Jobs For South Australia, Renewable Energy News, by Energy Matters, 26 July 11 A visit by the federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Greg Combet and South Australian Premier Mike Rann to a wind turbine tower manufacturing plant in suburban Adelaide has highlighted the economic benefits from growth in renewable energy in the state.
Mr Combet said the recently announced new Clean Energy Finance Corporation will play a vital role in unlocking significant new private investment into clean energy projects and may include assistance for businesses manufacturing components for clean energy projects…..
Waubra Foundation – Australia’s secretive front group for polluting industries
The trick with astroturfers is to create a large number of so-called community groups to gain disproportionate media attention. Further investigation often finds these to be “phantom” organisations of just one person with often the same person representing multiple groups.
At the mere sniff of a proposed wind farm, media releases go out from “local”
Landscape Guardian groups. Paid advertisements call for public meetings. At these, the forces behind the climate sceptic movement in Australia, such as the Institute of Public Affairs’ Australian Environment Foundation, call on the by now familiar list of Guardians and its plentiful supporters amongst the Lavoisier Group, the Liberal Party and other sceptic groups to be bussed in. With the emphasis on silencing any pro-wind supporters at a meeting….
The ugly Landscape of the Guardians, Independent Australia, Sandi Keane, 24 July 11, “……..Wind Turbine Syndrome, according to the Waubra Foundation. Symptoms claimed include sleep problems, headaches, dizziness, nausea, exhaustion, anxiety, anger, irritability, depression, tinnitus, concentration problems – and a new one – children refusing to go to school! Continue reading
Australia’s Prime Minister counters the untruths of the campaign against carbon pricing
to take just one point, a false claim was made about employment,” she told Australia Associated Press, adding “there was a suggestion that employment was somehow going to go slow or go backwards under pricing carbon. It’s simply not true.”
“Employment in this country will go up by 1.6 million jobs by 2020, half a million of those jobs in the next two years,” she said.
Australian PM dismisses anti-carbon tax campaign, People’s Daily, China, 24 July 11 Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Saturday dismissed a series of anti-carbon tax advertisements paid for by big business, saying the facts are on the government’s side. Continue reading
Australia has a very clever package for climate change action
He believes Australia has come up with a “very clever” package of measures that benefits from the mistakes made in the early years of the European emissions trading scheme,… In truth there will never be a better time for the resources sector, which has many of the industries most affected.
Outsider can’t understand our climate debate, THE AUSTRALIAN, Mike Steketee , July 23, 2011 WITH the climate change debate in Australia trapped in a seemingly never-ending circle of claims and counter-claims, an outside perspective can be refreshing.
“I don’t know why people have the impression that Australia is jumping ahead of the rest of the world,” Malte Meinshausen says. With its promised 5 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 2000 levels by 2020, he adds, Australia still will have the highest per capita emissions in the developed world. Continue reading
Australian Greg Sheridan – a not so moderate pro nuclear voice
Just in case you didn’t notice, I’ll mark in red some of Mr Sheridan’s best efforts at answering the anti-nuclear case – Christina Macpherson
Paralysed by our anti-nuclear hysteria, THE AUSTRALAN, Greg Sheridan, July 23, 2011“…….On one issue, a fairly toxic interaction of anachronistic elite opinion and the popular faith in fossil fuels has led to one of the most debilitating Australian syndromes: our completely kooky phobia about anything to do with nuclear power. This is hurting us in energy planning, foreign policy and, crucially, defence……. Unless you are a Greens/Taliban fundamentalist seeking to de-industrialise the West, you are not serious about climate change if you oppose nuclear energy…..”
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