Australian Liberal politician attacks climate science teaching in schools
Queensland Education Minister Cameron Dick said Mr McIver’s comments were an “outrageous slur” on the professionalism of the state’s 38,000 teachers. “The curriculum taught in Queensland state schools is developed and delivered by educational experts, not politicians, nor backroom political party operatives like Mr McIver,” he said.
”Quite simply, students studying science in Queensland state schools are taught scientific facts.
Students ‘brainwashed’ over climate change: LNP, Sydney Morning Herald, Tony Moore, July 15, 2011 , The Liberal National Party president has blasted the Queensland education system for “brainwashing” students about climate change. Speaking to LNP members at the party’s state conference today, Bruce McIver said he was discouraged about how children were being taught about climate change in schools. Continue reading
Queensland University leads in research for solar distributed energy
“In future, it will need to accommodate many, many more, smaller input sources in diverse locations, from renewable resources such as solar, geothermal and wind,” Professor Meredith says.
He says mid-size, commercial-scale renewable power generating systems like UQ’s will become increasingly common in urban and remote areas.
UQ powers up $7m solar array QBR, July 15, 2011, Brisbane has today stepped up its renewable energy research capabilities with the official launch of the University of Queensland’s $7.75 million solar array – the largest power system of its kind in Australia. Continue reading
Solar power for Queensland’s Sunshine Coast
Australia’s Sunshine Coast gives green light to 10MW PV plant Recharge, 30 June 11 Energy Parks Australia (EPA) has been given the go-ahead to build one of the country’s largest solar plants – a 10MW facility on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. The A$40m ($43m) project – the first of what the company hopes will be a pipeline of six – was approved by the Sunshine Coast Regional CouncilThe 50 hectare site on former sugar-cane land at Valdora, about 125km north of Brisbane, may include a biofuel plant alongside the PV installation.
EPA is looking for domestic and international investors to back the project.
The solar facility would be one of the biggest in Australia, apart from the utility-scale projects announced earlier this month under the government’s Solar
Flagships programme…. http://www.rechargenews.com/energy/solar/article264517.ece
Giant solar energy plants for New South Wales and Queensland
Giant solar energy plants to run 100,000 homes, Sydney Morning Herald, Ben CubbyJune 20, 2011 THE two giant new solar power plants slated for Moree in western NSW and Chinchilla in Queensland will mark the first time solar power in Australia is deployed on a scale large and reliable enough to rival coal as a source of ”baseload” energy. Neither plant is close to being the world’s biggest, with much more powerful solar power stations in the US and Spain already under construction, but enough power to run more than 100,000 households will be generated without the use of fossil fuels…. Continue reading
Renewable energy plan for North Queensland
The construction phase will see investment of up to $A1.5bn, generating up to 1,000 jobs…….”The Queensland government has stimulated significant activity in renewable-energy projects in the clean-energy corridor, particularly through its investigation of large-scale solar in conjunction with the Clinton [Global] Initiative.
In depth: Australia’s $1.6bn plan to turn the outback green – Recharge ,by Oliver Wagg,14 June 11 Northern Queensland may become home to one of Australia’s major clean-energy hubs if a proposal to connect the remote mining region to the national grid gets the green light. Continue reading
Renewable energy power for South East Queensland
Electricity generated from these green sources would power street lights, council buildings and offices, libraries, and community centres in participating local government areas.
Brisbane City Council’s Renewable Energy Plan, Sydney Morning Herald, Tony Moore, March 2, 2011 The Gold Coast, Ipswich and Scenic Rim councils have volunteered to be part of Brisbane’s bold bid for a new green power station.
It was revealed yesterday Brisbane City Council planned to build a renewable energy plant in southeast Queensland by 2014. Continue reading
Paul Howes’ union lobbying for uranium industry
Union calls for Qld to lift uranium ban, Sydney Morning Herald, February 16, 2011 “…..The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) on Wednesday passed a national conference resolution calling on the Queensland government to overturn its uranium mining ban…..The AWU wants Victoria and NSW to remove bans on uranium exploration. Mining is also banned in those states. Continue reading
Queensland Premier redirects money to solar power
Anna Bligh ….saying it would help develop two new solar plants that power over 50,000 homes.
Anna Bligh culls coal to fund solar Courier Mail Patrick Lion (Qld) December 25, 2010 The Sunday Mail has learnt the Premier recently redirected one-third of the clean coal allocation in the Queensland Future Growth Fund towards the development of two new commercial-scale solar power projects. Continue reading
Australian Labor Party’s right wing – big push on behalf of nuclear lobby
Anna Bligh opens door to nuclear powe Jamie Walker and Imre Salusinszky : The Australian * December 24, 2010 ANNA Bligh has backed calls for the Labor Party to review its policy on nuclear power.……Minister Martin Ferguson, right-wing Australian Workers Union leader Paul Howes, former NSW premier Bob Carr and Labor senators Steve Hutchins and Mark Bishop in supporting a review of the ALP’s long-standing ban on nuclear power, most likely at the party’s national conference next December…… Continue reading
Sunshine Coast Council takes positive action on Climate Change
“The Energy Transition Plan—which supports the Sunshine Coast Climate Change and Peak Oil Strategy—maps out the path to get there and sets energy conservation, low carbon energy generation, demand management and fuel reduction targets not only for council, but for the whole Sunshine Coast.”….
Council fast tracking its energy change, My Sunshine Coast, 14 Dec 10, Energy efficient buildings, roof-top Solar PV, and using renewable fuels are three ‘spearhead’ projects that have kick started Sunshine Coast Council’s transition to a clean energy organisation.
Queensland coastal cities suggested for nuclear plants
In response to community concern, the Queensland Government has legislated to prohibit the development of nuclear facilities in Queensland….
Nuclear plant for Gladstone? Gladstone Observer Kieran Moran | 10th December 2010 GLADSTONE has been identified as a likely site for a nuclear power plant. Continue reading
Research report shows Queensland’s world-class ability for solar power
The key findings of the Parsons Brinckerhoff report include:
• the quality of Queensland’s solar resource is comparable to the world’s best solar resources;
• deploying large-scale solar projects in Queensland is technically and environmentally feasible;
Study provides a roadmap for solar power in Queensland, My Sunchine Coast, 9 Nov 10, A new study indicates Queensland has all the necessary elements to become an international leader in commercial-scale solar power, including solar resources that are comparable to the best found anywhere in the world. Continue reading
Hydro electric power plan for Queensland
The proposal would generate 1,800 MW of renewable baseload electricity travelling via undersea cable to Weipa and could potentially plug directly into Townsville as early as 2020.
Queensland plugs in to hydro power, Architecture and Design 16 September 2010 Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has backed a multi-billion dollar hydro power project in PNG that would plug directly into Townsville, providing green energy to Queensland. Continue reading
Queensland govt’s short-sighted vision on energy future
“The Bligh government is locking Queensland into an economy dominated by high dependence on fossil fuels, high greenhouse gas emissions and high payments on carbon credits,”
Carbon future will cost, activist says, Sydney Morning Herald, September 13, 2010 Queenslanders could be subsidising the renewable energy industries of China and India because the state government is locking itself into a future fuelled by fossil fuels, an environmental activist says. Continue reading
Queensland’s economic development groups want ‘clean energy corridor’
Member for Kennedy Bob Katter, one of the kingmaker Independents deciding who will form government, has put high on his priority list securing support for a ‘clean energy corridor’ of climate-friendly solar, wind and other zero-emission power plants between Townsville and Mount Isa.
North Queensland considers gas plants vs clean energy link for Mt Isa region * Kerrie Sinclair The Courier-Mail September 06, 2010 THE power play in Canberra may also determine the future of power generation in Queensland’s northwest. Continue reading
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