The plot thickens in promotion of Olympic Dam Uranium Mine
Last month the Australian government set up a Mines Tax policy team. It is led by Don Argus, former chairman of uranium miner BHP Billiton. Other members are former uranium company Rio Tinto executive David Klingner, Erica Smyth, chairman of uranium explorer Toro Energy.
So, Australia’s mining tax policy is guided by uranium mining representatives.
And now, in a bold statement in facvour of a carbon tax, BHP Billiton’s Chief Executice officer Marius Kloppers sets the scene for BHP to increase its influence over Australia’s government.
It all sounds so good. But note that, in supporting action on Climate change, Kloppers promotes “alternative” energies to take over from coal.
I’ll bet that “alternative” will turn out to be one of those words like “renewable” and “clean” that are applied to nuclear power. And all in such good timing, as BHP Billiton is desperate to get its Olympic Dam uranium mine expansion happening.
BHP’s Marius Kloppers accused of having “nuclear agenda”
Business Spectator, Sept 16 10, “……Liberal senator Cory Bernardi said Mr Kloppers was speaking out of self-interest because BHP Billiton was keen to pursue a nuclear agenda.”In sharemarket parlance, people talk up their own book and that’s what Mr Kloppers is doing,” he told Sky News, adding the resources giant’s chief executive officer was pushing alternative sources of energy such as uranium. Greens welcome Kloppers’ remarks | News | Business Spectator
BHP Billiton’s Marius Kloppers puts the case for carbon price
He noted that up to 90 percent of carbon emissions contributed by the countries electricity sector were largely caused by coal fired power stations across Australia as he asserted that we “will need to look beyond just coal towards the full spectrum of available energy solutions.”
BHP chief urges nation to look for alternatives in light of carbon price concerns – International Business Times, By Yumi Roxas | September 16, 2010 BHP chief urges nation to look for alternatives in light of carbon price concerns…… Continue reading
Australian Greens support BHP chief’s carbon price statement
Senator Brown said the businessman’s remarks legitimised the federal government’s promised climate change committee of MPs and experts that will work towards pricing carbon.
Greens welcome Kloppers’ remarks Business Spectator, 16 Sep 2010 BHP Billiton Ltd chief executive Marius Kloppers’ support for a carbon price is music to the ears of Australian Greens leader Bob Brown. 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
World Bank waking up to the need for a new energy economy
“The biggest hurdle is we still don’t value financially the environmental and social damage we’re doing with our current fossil-fuel economy. The economist’s term for that is “the externalities” – the things we’re not including in our calculus. Everything from the negative impacts of floods, sea-level rise, drought….”
Signs of Energy at the World Bank – NYTimes.com September 14, 2010, By ANDREW C. REVKIN – quoting Daniel Kammen, chief technical specialist for renewable energy and energy efficiency at the World Bank…… Continue reading
Just a step to the Right – Australia’s new govt on environment
It’s a bit of a worry. No Education Ministry for Australia -( it’s as if education is just about training kids for jobs – not about an informed, creative minded society in all age groups). As for Environment, – tucked away in a new portfolio (Sustainable Population, Communities, Environment and Water) under Tony Burke. He could be good – we don’t yet know.
Meanwhile, higher in the Ministerial food chain, are Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources and Energy and Greg Combet, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Combet was a coal engineer, degrees in mining engineering and economics.
Lurking in the wings, Bill Shorten, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, a leader of the putsch that elevated Julia Gillard, and an ardent pro-nuclear advocate. – Christina Macpherson
Australian Capital Territory leads the way on solar feed-in tariffs
“This is the most progressive policy reform for renewable energy in Australia, from any state or territory government,”
ACT ‘has got it right’ on solar, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Julie Doyle and Jessica Nairn 14 Sept 10, The solar industry says the ACT is the first jurisdiction to put forward such a comprehensive plan.: Simon Corbell speaks with 666 presenter Louise Maher (ABC Canberra) The solar energy industry has welcomed the ACT Government’s decision to dramatically expand the solar feed-in tariff scheme. 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
Investing in Renewable Energy? – China’s the place
Government backing, a growing market and flowing capital make China the ideal choice,
China Named Best Place To Invest In Green Energy NuWire INVESTOR September 10, 2010 by:Kerri Shannon China has taken over the top spot on the latest list of top countries for green energy investment, beating out the US, Germany and India. Government backing, a growing market and flowing capital make China the ideal choice, while lack of enforcement and incentives cost the US its favorite status. See the following article from Money Morning for more on this….. Continue reading
Renewed call for Australian national Feed-In Tariff for solar power
National solar power solutions provider Energy Matters is running a petition at FeedInTariff.com.au calling for a national gross feed in tariff program for solar power that has collected over 20,000 signatures so far.
WA SEA Calls For National Feed In Tariff : Renewable Energy News, 12 Sept 10, The WA Sustainable Energy Association has called on the new Gillard Government to work with the Council Of Australian Governments (COAG) to develop a nationally consistent gross feed-in tariff (FiT) for renewable energy. Continue reading
Carbon price, and rural renewable energy now likely in Australia
The process agreed between the Greens and Labor, the Climate Change Committee, will likely provide the pathway forward…rural communities in Australia will see greater development in renewable energy and clean energy infrastructure
New energy generation since 2000 – renewables 17%, nuclear 2%
Carbon dioxide-free energy sources have made up less than one fifth of the new generation. Of that, 17 per cent has been renewable energy – largely solar, wind and hydroelectricity…..Nuclear power, the largest source of installed low-carbon energy, has declined markedly since the 1980s and made up just 2 per cent.
Limit on climate, and the catch, The Age, Adam Morton, September 10, 2010 “……..According to research published today in the journal Science, global warming can be limited to 1.3 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2060 Continue reading
There’s money in them there solar rooftops
So long as the sun comes up each morning, this system will keep producing power at the same price, whereas most industry forecasters anticipate that retail electricity prices will rise at double-digit rates.
China races ahead in renewable energy investment
..In the second quarter of 2010, China attracted $11.5 billion in asset-financing for clean technologies, more than Europe and the U.S. combined,
China Supplants U.S. at Top of Ernst & Young Ranking for Renewable Energy, Bloomberg, By Alex Morales – Sep 9, 2010 China overtook the U.S. to lead a quarterly index of the most attractive countries for renewable energy projects for the first time, according to a list compiled by the global accounting firm Ernst & Young. Continue reading
1 This month
Help Aunty Sue Protect Her Land and Sacred Sites From Destructive Rocket Testing.
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Australians deserve the truth
about
AUKUS – https://aukuspublicinquiry.com/
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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