Hydroelectric plant – an Australian first
NSW: Australia’s first hydroelectric plant turned on, Energy Digital, 29 April 2010, North Head sewage treatment plant’s new hydro electric facility will now generate enough green energy to benefit environment, Andrea Marino , Apr 29, 2010 Continue reading
High Speed Rail network linked to carbon savings and renewable energy
A national Australian HSR network will deliver larger carbon savings as domestic energy production shifts to renewable energy sources like wind, geothermal, and baseload solar.
High-Speed Rail Back on Australian Agenda, The Energy Collective 24 April 2010, The Australian Greens have put high-speed rail (HSR) back on the national agenda. Continue reading
Postponement of U.S. Climate Bill raises doubt that nuclear will be included
Graham’s withdrawal of support for the climate bill actually removes pressure on Sen. John Kerry and California Sen. Barbara Boxer, who come from the two most anti-nuclear states in the country. They’ve had to swallow hard to support the climate bill and its support for nuclear energy
Climate bill postponed, Idaho Samizdat ~ http://djysrv.blogspot.com, 
At last, Australian solar projects to be announced
Shortlisted solar projects to see the light of day * Giles Parksinson , The Australian, April 26, 2010 IT could be a big fortnight for the Australian solar industry. The shortlist for the first two projects in the $1.5 billion Solar Flagships program is expected to be announced soon, and so will the much awaited but long-delayed winners of the solar component of the Renewable Energy Demonstration Program. Continue reading
UK election: Climate Change and Nuclear Power in the spotlight
Labour & Lib Dems Put Spotlight on Conservative Climate Sceptics The Energy Collective, by Vicky Portwain on 04/25/2010 Labour and Liberal Democrat energy representatives Ed Miliband and Simon Hughes joined forces to put Tory climate change sceptics in the spotlight this week.TThe ‘green hustings’ event organised by the Guardian featured a debate on climate change and energy between the 3 biggest political parties. The debate can be heard online via the Guardian website……Nuclear Power The Lib Dems do not believe nuclear power stations can be delivered in time before the energy crisis hits and that the nuclear programme undermines the building out of renewable energy……Labour & Lib Dems Put Spotlight on Conservative Climate Sceptics
USA Climate Change Bill: nuclear lobby bought politicians
Coal, nuclear, big oil defy the odds, Politico, 22 April 2010, By LISA LERER “….coal companies, the nuclear industry and Big Oil — have not only elbowed their way into seats at the table; they are poised to reap windfalls from climate proposals working their way through the Senate. .. Continue reading
How environmental groups are co-opted by grants from corporations, and governments
Environmental groups used to be funded largely by their members and wealthy individual supporters
The Wrong Kind of Green, By Johann Hari, The Nation, March 2010 “…as we confront the biggest ecological crisis in human history, many of the green organizations meant to be leading the fight are busy shoveling up hard cash from the world’s worst polluters–and burying science-based environmentalism in return. Sometimes the corruption is subtle Continue reading
Canadian researchers show the power of solar power
if they can mount solar panels on the rooftops and on those areas that are economically unproductive they can produce enormous amount of solar power
Ontario Solar Power could match US Nuclear Power, Alternative Energy April 20th, 2010 –Queen’s University Applied Sustainability Research Group located in Kingston, Canada comes out with two studies that claim solar power in southeastern Ontario can be created in abundance. The natural question is how much abundance?. The answer is mind-boggling. Southeastern Ontario has the potential to produce almost as much power as all the nuclear reactors in the United States! Continue reading
Uranium shares threatened by Nuclear Security Summit decisions
Nuclear Summit Changes Uranium Outlook ninemsn 14/04/2010 By Rudi Filapek-Vandyck US President Obama’s success in convincing world leaders the best way forward is through the conversion of hundreds of thousands of tons of weapons-usable nuclear fuel into non-military fuel for power stations might be good news for world peace, but probably not so for investors in uranium companies.
This week’s nuclear summit in Washington has ended with a general pledge by participants from all over the globe to convert hundreds of thousands of tons of weapons-usable nuclear fuel by 2014, plus an intention to set a 2012 summit in South Korea to measure progress.This inevitably means the supply-outlook has dramatically changed for the sector this week. Nuclear Summit Changes Uranium Outlook
graph from Purchasing 14 April, Uranium prices are stuck in a slump – 2010-04-14 18:23:54 | Purchasing
Like AREVA, nuclear energy company Silex buys into solar power
But the purchase leaves households interested in buying solar panels with a dilemma: by buying Australian-made panels, they are indirectly investing in nuclear energy as well.
Solar panel factory sees the sun again, Sydney Morning Herald BEN CUBBY, April 14, 2010 – THE biggest solar-panel factory in the southern hemisphere is to open in Sydney this morning – after it was rescued by a nuclear energy research company. Continue reading
Nuclear Power Lobby in a Bigger Mess Than I Thought
by Christina Macphers
on 9 April 2010, Some big corporations have an obvious interest in Australia promoting nuclear power. But which sort? Better not get Fourth Generation nuclear reactors – or the whole uranium industry is stuffed!
Today, thanks to Renfrey Clarke (3 items from him below) I learned about:
Second Generation Nuclear Reactors – those presently in use (Pressured Water Reactors – uranium-intensive and so ultimately producing lots of greenhouse gases, and not very safe, )
Third Generation Nuclear Reactors – still being built – updated versions of the Second Gen, super-expensive, a bit safer, but same waste and proliferation problems
‘Fast Breeder’ Reactors and Fourth Generation Nuclear Reactors – the latter still at the design stage, carry serious fire and radioactive waste risk. Worst of all, for Australia, they won’t need uranium mining , as they could use existing huge stockpiles of depleted uranium
The rush to roll out ‘second generation’ nuclear reactors
Why James Hansen is wrong on nuclear power | Links April 8, 2010“…….With both third- and fourth-generation nuclear plants outside the time bracket, what is left for environmentalists who hanker after nuclear power? The only option for them is the one embraced by the French and Chinese governments, and now, it seems, by the Obama administration in the US: an accelerated roll-out of second-generation nuclear plants, built to standardised designs following rushed or non-existent consultation with the plants’ future neighbours. Continue reading
Australian mainstream media’s pro-nuclear bias
by Christina Macpherson 8 April 2010. Yesterday’ s National Press Club Debate between Ziggy Spinowski, (pro-nuclear) and Bob Brown (anti-nuclear) was duly reported by Australia’s mainstream media.
And all these reports covered both points of view, both arguments.
BUT – look how the mainstream media chose to headline these. You wouldn’t know that Bob Brown was even there, would you?
Ziggy Switkowski: we need nuclear power for climate – THE AUSTRALIAN
Nuclear power ‘won’t fuel arms race’ ABC Online The head of Australia’s nuclear science agency has rejected claims that nuclear power in Australia could lead to nuclear weapons in the region. (surprise, surprise!)
Nuclear technology safer than coal shipping: chief Sydney Morning Herald AN AUSTRALIAN nuclear power industry would bring little risk of an environmental disaster such as the potential oil spill on the Great Barrier Reef, Ziggy Switkowski says.
Nuclear shift ‘likely’ The Age Nuclear energy advocate Ziggy Switkowski says he expects the public mood to shift in favour of nuclear in the next three years.
Review: Nuke waste, “nukes for peace”, Climate Change, Iran
Review: Australia. A critical time for Australia – Senate Inquiry into Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan, but local community excluded from attendance. W.A plan to use Oakajee port for uranium shipments. Alarming report from CSIRO – Climate Change well underway in Australia. “Climate Sceptics” influence grows.
International: U.S. safety worries with aging nuclear reactors,while France’s cost-cutting threatening safety of new reactors. Nuclear power being promoted as part of nuclear non proliferation! Iran building more nukes? – Israel threatening action on Iran. Continuing legal and financial battles for U.S. nuclear industry. A political move to thwart California’s renewable energy industries. – the week that has been
Despite huge renewable energy resources, Australia is way behind in clean energy
Australia lagging in clean energy investment, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Sarah Clarke Mar 26, 2010 A global analysis of clean energy investment has found that Australia ranks 14th on the list of G20 countries, behind Mexico and Turkey. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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