Australia’s clean, nuclear free, energy future
Siemens, a company with extensive involvement in the energy sector, has also mapped out an energy plan for Australia in which the contribution of fossil fuels to electricity generation falls from 93 per cent to around 10 per cent by mid-century, with the remainder generated by a mix of renewables consisting mainly of solar (35 per cent), wind (18 per cent), and geothermal (17 per cent)..
Clean And Green Doesn’t Have To Be Nuclear | newmatilda.com, Dr Jim Green, 9 Dec 10, “If nuclear power is the answer, it must havebeen a pretty stupid question.” So says Ian Lowe, Griffith University professor and president of the Australian Conservation Foundation. 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
Australia’s State and Federal govts hampering renewable energy
the newly elected Baillieu coalition government in the state of Victoria is making it difficult to gain planning approval for new wind farms,…….
Meanwhile, on Friday climate change minister ( or is it Coal Promotion Minister) Greg Combet announced an end to the Solar Credit Multiplier scheme, which subsidises the installation of rooftop panels.
Australian renewables industry fears fresh roadblocks Proposed buffer zone around new wind farms threatens to stifle expansion, BusinessGreen, by Tom Young, 7 Dec 10, Australia’s nascent renewable industry suffered a series of setbacks over the weekend as state and federal politicians continued to show reticence over support for the sector. Continue reading
Australians have been deceived about global Climate Change action
There’s a lot happening out there in the world that Australians have been deceived about by the “the world isn’t acting, Australia shouldn’t lead” line. It’s a blatant lie and one that should be completely shattered by the time the Cancun negotiations are over, so we can get on with setting an effective carbon price as the Government’s number one priority in 2011.
C’mon Aussie c’mon…. seriously, c’mon!!!! Crikey November 30, 2010 – 9:55 pm, by Anna Rose.…………….After the UN talks in Copenhagen a year ago, we saw a concerted effort from Tony Abbott and his climate denier cronies to create an attitude in the community that the rest of the world wasn’t acting on climate change. This couldn’t be further from the truth Continue reading
Global renewable energy – China is the leader
“The level of wind energy being deployed in China shows what can be achieved with a carefully planned energy and industrial policy that elevates cleantech to a national strategic level,”
China secures the lead in renewable energy – UPI.com, BEIJING, 1 Dec. 10 — China is now the leader in the global renewable energy market, a report by Ernst & Young says. Continue reading
Victorian election – not a good result for Climate Change action
Mr Baillieu has said he will abandon Labor’s plan for a staged closure of the Hazelwood coal power station….and introducing tougher planning regulations that would prevent wind turbines being erected in tourist areas…..
Coalition has explaining to do on climate targets, The Age, Adam Morton, November 30, 2010“……….Environment Victoria, the state’s main green lobby group, said there were many gaps in the new government’s environment and climate policy stance as it had not outlined its full plans before the election as promised. Continue reading
World must face the truth on Climate Change
As the world discusses mitigating climate change at the UN climate conference in Cancun, starting today, what is really needed is for the world to face the truth, which may then foster our capacity to act……
Do we have the mindset to save the planet? UN Climate Change Conference In Cancun, The Age Lyn Bender, November 29, 2010 Where were you when you first realised that climate change was happening? Were you caught up in the horror of the worst bushfires in Victoria’s history on Black Saturday 2009?
Or moved by images of distraught parents in the aftermath of record monsoons that had flooded Pakistan? Continue reading
Australia neither needs nor wants nuclear power
That we don’t need nuclear power is obvious: the ”land of the cloudless skies” has cleaner, abundant energy available. The recent report Beyond Zero Emissions demonstrates baseload clean energy can be supplied by renewable sources within 10 years at an affordable cost – about $8 a household a week.
The question: should nuclear energy power our future?, Sydney Morning Herald, 29 Nov 10, “……...THE SCIENTIST: Ann Henderson-Sellers Cold, northern hemisphere countries may resort to nuclear power to try to achieve energy security and moderate climate change but Australia neither needs it nor wants it. Continue reading
THE AUSTRALIAN likely to change its attitude to Climate Change
While a highly qualified science writer, Julie Posetti, gave up on efforts to cover Climate Change properly at THE AUSTRALIAN newspaper, that paper’s view is likely to now do an abrupt u-turn in its coverage of climate change.
As Australia’s top right-wing voice, THE AUSTRALIAN is now urgently touting nuclear power for Australia. With no economic, environmental, (especially water) argument for nuclear power in Australia – THE AUSTRALIAN will now be forced to become a firm believer in climate change, climate change being now the only (supposedly) acceptable argument for nuclear power in Australia.
(It wouldn’t do to argue that nuclear power is in the interests of BHP Billiton and other uranium corporations, or the interests of slavishly following the USA, or the prospect of an Australian international radioactive waste business.) Christina Macpherson
Hard to get serious articles on climate change in THE AUSTRALIAN
the difficulties of having stories published [in THE AUSTRALIAN] about climate change because of the attitude of and pressure from senior editors at the paper.
The ‘torture’ of writing about climate change at The Oz, Crikey, by Andrew Dodd 26 Nov 10 A former senior News Limited journalist has described trying to write about human-induced climate change at The Australian newspaper as “torture” and has blamed the editor-in-chief for limiting coverage on the topic because he has “taken a political view”. Continue reading
NUCLEAR POWER and ETHICS – theme for December 2010
The unethical nature of nuclear power, nuclear weapons, and the entire nuclear fuel cycle is becoming more obvious, as its history unfolds. On grounds of nuclear weapons spread, unsolved wastes problem, health and environment, effects on indigenous and poor peoples, injustice to today’s and future generations – and even the sheer financial costs for now and the future – it is clear that “atoms for peace” is a false and unethical enterprise.
Why is it so rare for ‘important’ people to face up to the evil nature of the whole nuclear fuel cycle? It’s not just money. Is it that so much of their reputation, their work has already been invested in nuclear? just too much effort to change track
Like Shakespeare’s Macbeth, who said “For mine own good,
All causes shall give way: I am in blood
Stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er”
(Image from MACBETH IS A BAD, BAD MAN design by Dave Shanker&Danilo Groppa, Charles W. Flanagan High School, Macbeth – Webquest)
However, some notable Australians have changed track, and next week, this blog heading will take a more positive view of Australians and nuclear power
Australia’s nuclear lobby steps up the spin, in fear of renewables’ success
The nuclear lobby fears the success of renewable energy. This is a pressing reason for stepping up nuclear spin in Australia today.
The cheerleader of pro-nuclear, anti-renewables spin is THE AUSTRALIAN newspaper. Their “environment editor” Graham Lloyd, is more of an Anti Environment editor. Today’s edition (27 Nov) has no less than three articles promoting nuclear power, and rubbishing wind energy.
We have foot-soldiers of nuclear spin – Jennifer Marohasy, Janet Albrechtsen, Martin Nicholson, Tom Biegler and Barry Brook getting coverage in the mainstream media. And even Australian Radiation Protection Society getting lectures on how we need nuclear powered submarines, and the” ideal of having a national nuclear industry”
Minister for Resources, Martin Ferguson launched a technical paper that portrays nuclear power as an economic option for Australia
Internationally, papers are appearing on the theme of ionising radiation being “good for you”.
The nuclear lobby has very little time, (with most nuclear reactors soon reaching their close-down date) to market its product against its popular and fast-developing competitors – renewable energy and energy efficiency. – Christina Macpherson
Anti-uranium and Climate Action protests targeting Paladin
The Angela Pamela project is owned by Paladin and Canada’s Cameco Corp………Paladin could also come under pressure today from the Climate Advocacy Fund, which claims the WA miner is not providing a satisfactory level of information about its carbon footprint.
Paladin to face anti-nuclear protest at AGM – The West Australian, PETER KLINGER, November 25, 2010, Paladin Energy is set for a showdown with the anti-nuclear lobby at its annual meeting in Perth today amid a heightened level of protest against uranium miners. Continue reading
See the latest on renewable energy for Australia
Energy Matters Video News – Episode 19 – November 25, 2010 In this episode, Virginia covers covers solar power vs. coal and land use, the Clean Energy Council backs Brumby, 5.7 million dollars in funding for a Queensland solar farm and the Victorian Greens pledge to divert funds from coal to renewable energy. Energy Matters Video News – Episode 19 – November 25, 2010 : Renewable Energy News :
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Australia 2011
Clean Energy Australia 2011 2 8 Feb – 2 Mar, 2011 Hilton SydneyStreet: 488 George StreetCity: Sydney Welcome to Clean Energy Australia 2011 – Asia Pacific’s premier clean energy event.Clean Energy Australia focuses on generation strategy, efficiency and commercial outcomes. Discover the business case for investing in clean energy. Continue reading










