Renewable energy, Australian media, and BHP Billiton
Across the world’s media – so much about oil spill, about wonderful nuclear power, about soccer … but also quite a lot about Renewable Energy. Yes, renewable energy is happening, and it deserves more coverage.
Of course, in Australia, the news is all about the dreaded super profit resources tax, and how awful our P.M is supposed to be. They’ve done a good job – the corporate-dominated media.
Meanwhile –
BHP Billiton are probably finding this whole tax saga quite convenient, as there are several other factors holding up the expansion of Olympic Dam. China is cutting down on energy use. Uranium prices in the doldrums.
Apart from the serious legal and environmental concerns about Olympic Dam, there’s the unmentioned issue of seismic activity.
Last year’s incident that paralysed the main shaft activity is still a mystery. It could turn out the the whole expansion operation is unsafe and unviable, and BHP can conveniently blame the Australian government, when it abandons the project
Australian govt wimping out on renewable energy legislation?
Several sources are reporting the Federal Government has withdrawn legislation related to a revamp of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) and that it may not be presented again until after the next Federal election.
Reports : Renewable Energy Target Legislation Stalled : Renewable Energy News June 18: A Revised Draft Legislation Program for the Senate released last night shows the RET vote will be going ahead, but rescheduled Continue reading
Decentralised solar power an energy answer for remote and urban areas
Solar PV systems provide environment-friendly power generating solution for electrifying remote rural areas where it is neither technically nor economically feasible to extend grid coverage across vast territories
Australia & New Zealand solar PV market report, Renewable Energy Focus, 17 June 2010 In Australia and New Zealand, solar photovoltaic (PV) market trends indicate burgeoning demand Continue reading
Spain increasing already profitable solar power industry
Despite cuts, Spain’s subsidy structure still enables renewable power producers to earn up to 10 times more than fossil fuel producers for their energy…..Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero .. believes that his country’s goals will be obtained through increased private investment.
Spain Shoots for 67 Percent More Renewable Energy, CALFINDER , 18 June 2010, In a draft proposal on its way to the European Commission, Spain proposes that renewable generation capacity increase to 70 gigawatts by 2020, up from 42 gigawatts currently. Continue reading
Australian media publicising mining billionaires’ cheating message
On Australian TV we witness the unappetising vision of a bunch of billionaires looking like feral hippies – protesting against the government’s proposed super profit resources tax.
Well, of course – these impoverished underprivileged citizens want to have their 15% minimum profit, pretty much untrammelled by letting us – the great unwashed, and our descendants, get some benefit from this greed and environmental destruction.
It is sad that the Australian public can be conned in this way, due to media that is either bowing to its corporate ownership, or just too stupid or slack to see what is happening.
No wonder BHP, Rio Tinto etc are scared that other governments might get the idea of acting in the interests of their people, rather than of corporations. And it’s happening – – in the nuclear industry, as Germany is about to ring in a similar tax on nuclear power.
W.A. Premier threatens compulsory Aboriginal land acquisition – gas now, uranium later?
Gas hub land may be compulsorily acquired ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 15 June 2010, The Premier Colin Barnett has again foreshadowed compulsorily acquiring land north of Broome to build a Kimberley gas hub. Continue reading
Wind power now rivalling gas in Europe
Europe’s New Wind Power Rivals Gas, NYTimes.com, By JAMES KANTER, June 14, 2010 The amount of power generated by new wind turbines in the European Union this year will be about the same as the amount from new gas plants, Continue reading
W.A. way behind in clean energy, despite its renewable resources
Perth comes last for sustainability, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 15 June 2010, Perth has been ranked the least sustainable city in an assessment of the carbon footprint of Australia’s 20 largest cities….. Continue reading
Call to limit consumption, energy and water use
….“This reckless use of energy resources also leads to depletion of natural resources, the capabilities and budgets of the countries at the expense of social spending..”
(Bahrain) Reckless energy waste must stop’ Gulf Daily News, By MANDEEP SINGH , June 15, 2010 RECKLESS consumers are wasting Bahrain’s power and water supplies because heavy subsidies make them so cheap, a minister declared yesterday. Continue reading
Smart grid – Australia’s opportunity to develop efficient renewable energy
Australia going smart-grid | Green Tech – CNET News, by Candace Lombard, 9 June 2010, Newcastle, in the state of New South Wales, will be the first Australian city to move onto a smart grid in what the government says could be a nationwide change……. Continue reading
Renewable energy option for Australians
Green becomes an easier option, Sydney Morning Herald, June 10, 2010 All power companies must offer renewable energy options, writes Keeli Cambourne. With environmental awareness increasing, most energy companies are responding to demands from consumers for green power options. Continue reading
Small wind turbines for cheap, efficient, clean, power
Already many homeowners all over the world are using wind generators to produce power.
(UK) Residential Wind Power Systems, By: George Moss, Viral Socialite. 14 June 2010 High energy prices coupled with a desire to use more green energy resources has fueled an increasing interest in wind energy. Continue reading
Global subsidy to fossil fuels – about $600 billion
Just how much do governments spend on fossil fuels anyway? Thanks to a new report by IEA, http://www.iea.org/files/energy_subsidies.pdf , we now know the number is $557 billion worldwide as of 2008.
Time to come clean on energy subsidies? Renewable Energy World, Elisa WoodJune 11, 20100Time to come clean on energy subsidies? What you don’t know will hurt you. That’s the message in Michael Lewis’ new book, “The Big Short,” which traces today’s worldwide economic downturn to a single problem: the secretive nature of prices in the subprime mortgage bond markets.
What’s this got to do with energy? Our industry has its own opaque corners that can cause widespread damage. This week the International Energy Agency (IEA) is attempting to focus light on a big one: energy subsides for fossil fuels. Continue reading
Australia to fund renewable energy for Observatory
Govt to Fund Renewable Energy to Power Observatory | theangle.org By Rich Bowden 11 June 2010, The Australian Government has announced that it will release $47.3 million to the CSIRO to fund renewable energy solutions for a radio observatory.The funding will go towards supporting “renewable energy infrastructure projects for the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory and the Pawsey High-Performance Computing Centre for SKA Science in Perth,” Continue reading
100% renewable energy for UK data centre
U.K. data center commits to 100 percent renewable energy sources, ZDNet, By Heather Clancy | June 9, 2010, The operator of a newly opened 750,000 square foot data center in Wales has contracted with a renewable energy supplier to ensure that all of the energy that powers the new facility is generated from renewable energy sources. Continue reading
1 This month
Read the Public Inquiry Report, the Commissioners’ report, Surrendering Australia: The AUKUS Deception is available to download for free at aukuspublicinquiry.com. Or just watch the replay of the National Press Club Luncheon.
4 November – Will AUKUS keep us safe – at what cost?
the Commissioners of the AUKUS Public Inquiry present their findings at the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra. iview.abc.net.au/show/national-press-club-address
Submissions to the federal government’s new draft framework close on the 13th November 2026.
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)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
