How much you’re paying for Adani’s polluting mine to save Turnbull and Palaszczuk’s jobs
Crikey, Bernard Keane, 7 June 17 It wasn’t so long ago we were told it would cost too much to save jobs in car manufacturing, now we’re spending even more per job on a mine that will damage the Great Barrier Reef….. (subscribers only)
Tesla charge points for electric cars being installed in Stockland shopping centres
When visiting a Stockland shopping centre, customers will soon not only say “charge it” when making a purchase, they’ll also be able to keep their electric car fully firing…….
Other retail mall owners are rolling out similar programs, with GPT Group offering chargers for electric cars at its Rouse Hill town centre, and Wollongong Central, NSW. Vicinity Centres has installed chargers at Chadstone in Melbourne.
Stockland chief executive, commercial, John Schroder said in the ever-changing retail landscape, technology was increasingly critical to drive innovation, efficiency and engagement with customers….
Just one hour connected to a Tesla Destination Charger provides up to 110 kilometres of range,” he said.
“We know EV vehicles are part of the future and we look forward to offering more features like this to meet continuing Australian demand.”
Stockland already has 17 free Charge Point facilities in 10 locations throughout Australia, including Stockland Cammeray and Stockland Balgowlah. These Chargepoints can be used for all EV vehicles.
Stockland will continue to roll out both Chargepoint and Tesla Destination Chargers across its centres to support the growth in EV Vehicles in Australia.”
And with the move by Tesla to deliver its first cheaper Model 3 electric saloons, there will be more demand for chargers across all shopping centres and in the future, offices, hotels and residential towers.
Stockland will install the chargers in centres ranging from Cairns to Balgowlah, Cammeray and Green Hills, in NSW and the The Pines, Traralgon in country Victoria…… http://www.theage.com.au/business/innovation/stockland-to-install-tesla-charge-points-at-31-shopping-centres-across-australia-20170608-gwnghn.html
ACF welcomes waste dump dumping: Global radioactive waste dump plan is “dead”
The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed the end of plans for an international high level radioactive waste dump in South Australia.
Earlier today Premier Jay Weatherill formally ruled out the controversial plan declaring it “dead” and “not something that will be progressed by the Labor Party in Government”.
“This is good news for South Australia and all Australians,” said ACF nuclear free campaigner Dave Sweeney. “The radioactive waste plan was ill-considered and the reality would have been permanent risk.”
The dump push came out of a state Royal Commission into the nuclear sector and attracted sustained opposition that included protest actions, rallies, tens of thousands of petitions and protest letters and widespread civil society and Aboriginal opposition.
The plan never enjoyed state or federal bi-partisan political support and was rejected by eighty percent of participants in a Citizens Jury process late last year.
“This plan has always lacked credibility and consent and today’s decision by the Premier is both overdue and welcome. “Above all it is a massive tribute to people power and the importance of speaking up and standing up and taking action for a cleaner and safer future,” said Sweeney.
In welcoming today’s reprieve on international waste plans ACF has reaffirmed its support for communities in regional South Australia currently facing the threat of a national radioactive waste facility.
Delight as nuke dump plan buried for good
The state’s peak environment body has strongly welcomed today’s announcement from Premier Weatherill that he now considers the global nuclear waste dump is dead, vowing that Labor will not revisit if after the next state election.
In Victor Harbor at the Country Cabinet meeting on Monday the Premier said the plan was ‘dead’. In today’s InDaily, the Premier went further confirming that “It’s not something that will be progressed by the Labor Party in Government”.
“This is great news. We are delighted the Premier has announced that he has no intention to re-visit the divisive debate on a global nuclear waste dump in SA if he is re-elected in March,” said Craig Wilkins, Conservation SA’s Chief Executive.
“The dump was a dead plan walking after last year’s huge and sustained community opposition which culminated in the Citizen’s Jury. With today’s commitment from the
Premier, the plan can now be buried for good.
“With the Marshall Liberal Opposition, along with Nick Xenophon and the Greens, also strongly opposed, this threat that South Australians have faced since the Royal Commission was announced two years ago is now over for the foreseeable future.
“This is a win for all the many South Australians who stood up and demanded a better option for our state than as a home for the world’s radioactive waste.
“Our state’s clean and green reputation is an enormous asset. With our world-leadership in waste management and renewable energy, as well as our beautiful wild spaces under the seas and on land we have so much to celebrate.
“We now look forward to the Premier standing up for the people in Kimba and the Flinders Ranges fighting against the Turnbull Government’s push to impose radioactive waste from Sydney’s Lucas Height’s reactor onto their communities,” he said.
Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel to report on Australia’s energy options
Finkel’s fine line through Australia’s testy power politics http://reneweconomy.com.au/finkels-fine-line-australias-testy-power-politics-61951/ By Giles Parkinson on 5 June 2017 It now seems certain that chief scientist Dr Alan Finkel will deliver a range of options for government policy makers when presenting his review to the COAG ministers and leaders this Friday.
There will be mention of the emissions intensity scheme, but because a carbon price of any form is not on the menu of this Coalition government, other more “palatable” alternatives will be on offer, including a low emissions target, an option on pairing new renewables with storage or back-up and, possibly, a pathway for regulation.
All have their merits. But as in any policy, the devil will be in the detail and the way these schemes are designed – for the future or the past. And it is going to be interesting to see how Finkel presents his case. Will it be his view of what should be done? Or will it be focused on what can be managed in the current political environment?
Certainly, there is a growing chorus among politicians and the mainstream media that something should be done. But there is not a lot of thought into what these policies can actually achieve, even though they should obviously seek to meet climate targets and manage the energy transition efficiently and at lowest cost.
The problem was that none of the institutions could bring themselves to actually say it: that wind and solar are by far cheaper than coal and gas and any “other low-carbon technologies”.
The Australian Energy Markets Commission and the Climate Change Authority reinforced their support for an emissions intensity scheme (EIS), and only saw a low emissions target (LET) as a second-best measure. Once again, those recommendations simply reinforce preconceived ideas, and lousy modelling.
Both institutions came out strongly in support of an EIS last year, but as we pointed out at the time,
here and here, these positions were based on hopelessly pessimistic modelling inputs on the cost of solar and wind.
The AEMC said, then, that an EIS would be $15 billion cheaper for consumers than other options, but this was based on ridiculous assumptions, on the cost of solar energy in particular, as we highlighted in this story: Australia’s energy rule-maker hasn’t a clue about renewable energy.
Even a minor adjustment to their absurdly high forecast of solar costs showed that a high renewable energy target would deliver $15 billion in cost savings to consumers. But that conclusion, included in their own report, wasn’t highlighted.
If realistic costs of renewables and gas had been used, then it is safe to assume that the results would have shown that a high renewables policy would deliver significantly more savings than a gas-focused policy.
The tragedy is that the AEMC and CCA have now released data that confirms that those modelling assumptions were completely out of whack, but they have done nothing about it.
The independent assessment from the Centre of International Economics confirms RenewEconomy‘s observations that their modelling for both the AEMC and the CCA report used renewable energy prices (way too high) and gas prices (way too low) that were well out of the ball park.
Aboriginal survivors of atomic bomb tests are not fooled by claims that radioactive waste is safe
Anthony Clark Fight to Stop Nuclear waste Dump in Flinders South Australia June 1
On September 27, 1956, an atomic mushroom cloud rose above the Maralinga plain – the first of seven British bomb tests.
Aboriginal people living around Maralinga didn’t have a voice in 1956.
Aboriginal people known as Kuyani/Adnyamathanha with Heritage rights over Arcoona Station near Woomera in 1998 found their voice and protested all the way to the Full Bench of the Federal Court of Australia culminating in a win against the Liberal Coalition Uranium Waste Repository causing the Federal Government to abandon the proposal.
The Adnyamathanha Nation since 2016 have once again been attacked by the Liberal Coalition Government through ANSTO with a proposal attached to a promise of $10 Million benefits to the closest community boundary which technically could be Flinders Ranges Council located at Quorn SA, whose council area is closer to Wallerbadina Station earmarked for the proposed Uranium Waste Repository (Dump)
Ask any of the Aboriginal Nations affected by the Uranium Waste left behind at Maralinga, if Uranium Waste is safe and you will quickly be educated by the sorrow despair and suffering culminating in early deaths and contamination of Song Lines and Sacred Grounds for both Male and Female if an area contaminated by Nuclear Waste is a good idea and you will quickly develop understanding against the idea from empathetic reasoning told by the few survivors living today! https://www.facebook.com/groups/344452605899556/
CSIRO report doctored to pretend gas cheaper than wind and
solarREneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson on 2 June 2017 The CSIRO Low Emissions Technology Roadmap report has been released by the Australian Coalition government, purporting to show that the cheapest avenue to cutting emissions is by limiting wind and solar and focusing more heavily on gas-fired generation.
But in reality, it shows no such thing. Or at least, it shouldn’t.
The report relies heavily on different scenarios. Extraordinarily, the primary scenario that focuses on high amounts of gas-fired generation and limits to wind and solar is paired with high gains in energy efficiency and energy productivity across buildings, transport and industrial processes.
But the scenario for high wind and solar assumes business as usual on efficiency and productivity, meaning that the wind and solar scenario assumes 50 per cent more electricity generation is required in 2050 than in the scenarios where the amount of wind and solar is capped, or higher levels of fossil fuel generation is assumed………
The report continues a sad history in Australia of analysis that is shaped to fit what appears to be a predetermined outcome.
How else to explain the decision to cost the high wind and solar scenario on the basis that there would be no gains in efficiency or productivity, where in reality these are the centre of high renewable planning. Wind and solar are the obvious path, but conservative governments simply don’t want to know…….http://reneweconomy.com.au/csiro-report-doctored-to-pretend-gas-cheaper-than-wind-and-solar-92725/
Donald Trump is a “climate criminal” – Australian reaction to the USA climate deal pullout
Donald Trump labelled ‘climate criminal’ as Australian politicians react to US exit from Paris climate agreement, ABC News By political correspondent Louise Yaxley, 2 June 17 Both major parties in Australia say they remain committed to the Paris climate agreement despite Donald Trump’s announcement the US will withdraw from the deal.
The Coalition and Labor have labelled the US President’s decision disappointing, while the Greens have gone much further, with MP Adam Bandt using Twitter to call Mr Trump a “climate criminal”.
Pressure from all sides The messy withdrawal from the Paris agreement is a reflection of the pressure the President’s been under to both stay in, and pull out, of the deal, writes Zoe Daniel.
“Trump has just threatened our security and our way of life. Time to dump Trump,” Mr Bandt wrote.
“Trump’s ‘axis of denial’ is a greater threat to global security than terrorism.”…..http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-02/donald-trump-decision-disappointing-say-coalition-and-labor/8582696
Greenpeace Australia and Amnesty International condemn U.S. withdrawal from climate agreement
Donald Trump, climate change: World reacts to US withdrawal from Paris agreement, news.com.au, 2 June 17 “………Greenpeace Australia Pacific condemned Mr Trump’s decision calling it reprehensible and destructive.
Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner, Nikola Casule, said the President had betrayed the trust of nearly 200 nations.
“Real global leaders are taking urgent action on climate change,” he said.
“Other major parties to the historic Paris Agreement — including China, the EU and India — have signalled they remain firmly committed to the deal. At the very least, we expect that the rest of the nearly 200 nations will be stepping up and holding the US government to account.
“Australia must stand with them. Because global climate action is not a legal or political debate, it is a moral obligation to protect our planet and people.”
Describing the clean energy revolution as unstoppable Mr Casule said Mr Trump’s isolationist stance at this critical moment in history is morally reprehensible and attempts to derail global progress on climate change will fail.
The decision was also slammed by human rights groups who warned the world’s poorest people will suffer the worst consequences of this decision.
Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA said Mr Trump’s decision to pull out of deal could result in a human rights catastrophe of epic proportions.
She warned the decision would set the world on a deadly collision course with disaster, war and insecurity
“Let there be no doubt, President Trump’s expected decision to withdraw the USA from the global climate deal is an assault on a range of human rights putting millions of people’s lives and wellbeing around the world in severe jeopardy,” she said.
“By refusing to join other nations in taking necessary steps to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change, the President is effectively saying: ‘Let them drown, burn and starve’.” debra.killalea@news.com.au
Josh Frydenberg predicts ‘big battles’ within Coalition after Finkel review
Energy minister says market needs signal to kickstart new investment in thermal generation to help stabilise the grid, Guardian, Katharine Murphy, 31 May 17, The energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, says the looming Finkel review will recommend a new policy signal driving investment in a “broad suite of generation capacity”, which, if implemented, will restore confidence in Australia’s electricity sector.
But he also foreshadowed a hard road ahead. Referencing the climate wars of the past decade, noting that energy policy had “destroyed two prime ministers and one opposition leader”, Frydenberg predicted “big battles” both within the Coalition – and potentially within Labor – and externally with stakeholders, as the government seeks to land a new policy.
Frydenberg told an economic thinktank in Canberra on Wednesday the final Finkel review, which will be presented to the Council of Australian Governments next Friday, would help “land some sort of position to create that signal for investment in a broad suite of generation capacity”…….
Frydenberg’s comments are consistent with a widespread expectation among key industry groups that the chief scientist will use his looming report to recommend the government adopt a new low-emissions target, which would work in practice as a technology-neutral renewable energy target (RET)……https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/31/josh-frydenberg-predicts-big-battles-within-coalition-after-finkel-review
If Glencore wants cheap energy for Mt Isa, it should go solar
REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson on 30 May 2017 International mining giant Glencore is apparently threatening to close its huge copper operations in Mt Isa – with the loss of at least 2,000 jobs – because of the soaring cost of energy, amongst other things.
According to an article in the Australian Financial Review on Tuesday , Glencore’s copper chief Aristotelis Mistakidis has written a letter to the state and federal governments complaining that the price of power has risen 100 per cent in three years and will continue to escalate.
But it only has itself to blame.
Glencore is the biggest miner of coal in the world following its merger with Xstrata, and the biggest mineral commodities trading business.
Back in 2011, Xstrata had a choice of which energy it should choose for the future supply of Mt Isa – between the Copperstring transmission line from Townsville that would deliver wind, solar, biomass and maybe geothermal, or a gas plant supplied by AGL.
It went for the latter, and it has turned out to be be a mighty stupid decision. Gas prices have soared, as many predicted, and the cost of gas generation has likely more than doubled.
The cost of solar and wind, meanwhile, has halved, as many predicted. Glencore would likely be paying half of what it is now had it chosen the renewable energy option……..
If Glencore is really serious about the operations at Mt Isa and reducing energy costs, it would have no hesitation in building a large solar plant to meet at least some of its energy needs. That can be easily incorporated into the gas plant, particularly with the help of storage and smart controls.
Mt Isa has excellent solar resources. It would likely deliver electricity at a cost of $70-$80/MWh, perhaps even less. If it had acted quickly enough, Glencore could have cashed in on the high price of renewable energy certificates.
That would have meant that the cost of electricity would have been free for at least a few years (LGC prices have been trading around $80/MWh).
At the very least, a large portion of its energy costs would be largely hedged for 25 years. It would have guaranteed its earnings and the jobs of 2,000 people, and the future of a major regional city. http://reneweconomy.com.au/if-glencore-wants-cheap-energy-for-mt-isa-it-should-go-solar-25999/
Australia’s energy future at a critical turning point
The hope is that the Finkel Review – due in just over two weeks – might convince more people that we can do without the waving of red flags. The change is upon us and it’s all OK. We just need our regulators and our politicians to catch up.
The great divide over Australia’s energy future, REneweconomy By Giles Parkinson on 22 May 2017 It was the head of the biggest electric network operator in the world, China State Grid, that summed up best the challenge of moving to a high renewable energy grid: It is not so much a technical problem, but a cultural one.
In other words, there are those who say it can be done, arguing that it offers a smart, cleaner and ultimately cheaper and more reliable alternative. And there are those who say it can’t be done, and are reluctant to adopt the new technologies and the new ways of managing a complex electricity grid.
In Australia in the past few weeks, we have been getting a clear signal as to which authorities fall into which camp, and the obstacles facing those who want to get on with the job and go with the technology, rather than fight it. Continue reading
Australia’s governing Liberal Coalition has really mucked up Native Title policy
Coalition in damage control over bungling of Native Title, Courier Mail, Anthony Chisolm, The Sunday Mail (Qld) May 21, 2017 IF SENATOR Matt Canavan and Senator George Brandis had worked harder and more diligently over recent months on their necessary changes to Native Title legislation, they would not have been caught in such a desperate political play on the last Senate sitting day.
COAL IS BLOCKING LABOR’S EARS! #STOPADANI
COAL IS BLOCKING LABOR’S EARS! #STOPADANI #AUSPOL #QLDOL #CLIMATECHANGE https://jpratt27.wordpress.com/2017/05/19/coal-is-blocking-labors-ears-stopadani-auspol-qldol-climatechange/ Leader of a Sinking Island Admonishes Trump on Climate Change The Prime Minister of Tuvalu, an island nation in the Pacific, is calling out President Donald Trump for his myopic views on coal and climate change.
Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga told Motherboard no country is seriously interested in fossil fuel expansion anymore.
No one in the US financial community wants to invest in fossil fuels, gas and oil projects are shutting down in the middle East.
“The US is going to be left behind.
The guy in the White House doesn’t understand that,” Sopoaga said at the UN energy forum in Vienna this week. There are more than a thousand energy experts and political leaders embracing renewable energy at this moment.
Just one example: All of India’s lighting will be replaced by LEDs by 2019, saving millions of dollars and reducing CO2 emissions by 18 million tonnes a year, according to Piyush Goyal India’s Minister of Energy.
This is far ahead of the US and nearly every other country. Continue reading
Invest ethically and win
Invest ethically and win
Green is the new black in investing as billions of dollar pour into ethical funds, which are consistently outperforming.… (subscribers only)
http://www.afr.com/personal-finance/shares/ethical-investing-comes-of-age-20170518-gw7kuc
1 This month
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/2352741955560
15 April – Zoom –Nuclear Power is Not the Solution
Apr 15, 2026 01:00 AM in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) on Tuesday, April 14th for a timely webinar exploring the risks associated with nuclear power and challenging the myth that it offers a simple, safe, carbon-free solution to the climate crisis
21 April Webinar: No Nuclear Weapons in Australia
Start: 2026-04-21 18:00:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
End: 2026-04-21 19:30:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
Event Type: Virtual
A virtual link will be communicated before the event.
Host Contact Info: australia@icanw.org
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 