Citizen’s Assembly on Climate Change could have a positive result
Just for once, can we drop all the negativity, and work with what opportunities do exist? The fossil fuel lobbies and mass media did a great job in rubbishing the science on Climate Change. Yet it’s becoming ever clearer that global warming is real, and Australia is already feeling the results.
In the cynical quagmire of Australian politics, Labor could not get any genuine action on carbon emissions through Parliament, anyway. OK – they let us down. That’s what politicians do, when they fear that their jobs are on the line.
The combination of the Citizens Assembly and of a scientists conference provides the opportunity to turn public opinion around, to counter the greedy spin of the fossil fuel industries. This could produce a political climate in which the government COULD get some effective Climate legislation through.
Suspend your cynicism on Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change
Without question, they will want commitment from Gillard that their 12 months of deliberations will generate sustained reform on energy and climate policy.
Citizens’ assembly on climate may turn the heat on Gillard, The Age, Dr Carolyn Hendriks, 26 July 2010, Such forums tend to cut through the politicking and demand action.July 26, 2010 “…….Suspend your cynicism for one moment and consider what this citizens’ assembly might potentially offer. Continue reading
Here comes the sun – decentralised solar energy bill passed in USA
(USA) Here comes the sun, Beyond Nuclear 24 July 2010, The Senate Energy Committee yesterday approved Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) 10 million solar roofs bill (S. 3460). This bill would provide tax credits and other incentives to encourage people to install solar power on 10 million rooftops across the U.S. It would ramp up mass production of solar panels and thus likely reduce their cost. It’s an easy bill to support. Here is an article that describes the bill.
USA’s 10 Million Solar Rooftops Act
a homeowner who decides to install a 5-kilowatt solar system which, depending on location, would produce enough electricity to cover most, if not all, of an average electric bill (the solar panels would produce excess power during the day that can be sold back to the utility, covering some or all of the cost of electricity when the sun is not shining).
Here Comes the Sun: Ten Million Solar Rooftops, Renewable Energy World, by Greg Chafee July 21, 2010 Continue reading
Victoria: large scale solar plant and feed-in tariff
There is no doubt this initiative will mean that many local and international solar developers will remain in the country, and that Australia will have the opportunity of ranking among the leading developers of large-scale solar in the world…..
CLIMATE SPECTATOR: Brumby’s solar hit…Giles Parkinson, Business Spectator, 22 Jul 2010 Victorian Premier John Brumby certainly didn’t miss with the timing of the state’s large-scale solar power plant initiative…..announcing a 5 per cent large-scale solar energy target, supported by the country’s first large-scale feed in tariff.…. Continue reading
Bob Brown will back Labor or Liberal Climate Bills
Asked if he would block a climate change package without a price on carbon, Senator Brown said: “Goodness, no. We’re advocating renewable energy. “We’re advocating energy efficiency and we’ll negotiate. “We’re in there for better outcomes. But it will be remiss of both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott if they don’t get a carbon price.”
Brown promises climate backing, Sid Maher, Patricia Karvelas The Australian July 21, 2010
BOB Brown .. said he would pass climate bills from both parties even if they had no price on carbon.
The Greens leader, campaigning in Adelaide yesterday, also intensified his attack on the mining industry, saying his party wanted uranium mining at the South Australian behemoth Roxby Downs stopped. Continue reading
European Union looking to over 1 million renewable energy jobs
The biggest growth is anticipated to come from job creation in the consumer and small business sectors as homeowners focus on green lifestyles in order to enhance home energy efficiency, health, comfort and sustainability.
Green Jobs and Renewable Energy, ECOINSTITUTION, July 20, 2010 by davidhoward Renewable energy industry has proven its potential to create jobs. Under current policies, the European Union could create sizeable number of jobs: 950,000 direct and indirect full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs and increase to 1.4 million in the next decade. Continue reading
Detailed report on Europe’s Renewable Energy Policy
The report provides trends and information on renewable energy policies in Europe and analyzes some of the driving forces for the renewable energy sector
Europe Renewable Energy Policy Handbook 2010, GlobalData ReportStore, Jul-2010
GlobalData’s new report “Europe Renewable Energy Policy Handbook 2010” provides an in-depth analysis of the renewable policy initiatives in the European Union (EU) and the key countries in terms of strength of policy implementation. Continue reading
Climate and Energy Policy IS Water Policy
energy efficiency and many forms of renewable energy–such as wind power and solar photovoltaics–use little or no water.
These key messages delivered and explained in new report, Protecting t
he Lifeline of the West: How Climate and Clean Energy Policies Can Safeguard Water,
(USA) In the West, Climate and Energy Policy Is Water Policy, Dan Grossm and Bart Miller, 19 July 2010, “………………scientists are concluding that the extended droughts of the past may become the norm of the future. So what should we do about this bleak situation? If we are serious about avoiding the biggest looming crisis of meeting the water needs of the West, we have to understand the energy-water connection and advance clean energy solutions. Continue reading
Pro nuclear propaganda from Silex Systems
any investor who survived the tech boom and bust of the late 1990s would be wary of grandiose technology claims.
It is therefore mollifying that Silex’s local solar operations are also on a growth path, albeit with only a fraction of the nuclear side’s dazzling (?) potential…….
RBS Morgans analyst Scott Power says solar accounts for less than 10 per cent of the firm’s Silex valuation.
Silex Systems opts for solar exposure Tim Boreham : The Australian * July 17, 2010 WITH the climate-change debate winding its way back on the political agenda, the Lucas Heights-based Silex Systems is hedging its bets. Continue reading
A solar investment success story
A 50% reduction in gas costs and 70% reduction in energy costs. Better yet, he was then able to begin selling the extra power back to the electricity grid, as well as renewable energy credits to investors, who lend money to renewable energy projects.
(USA) Solar Power Success Story: Yearly Return & Low Energy Costs, CalFinder, 16 july 2010, Source: Portland Press Herald, When Jim Camasto had money to spare a few years back, he made a wise decision to invest in something other than the stock market: solar power. Today, this decision yields him a 3 to 4% yearly return and security that other investments just don’t offer. Continue reading
Australia waits for carbon price and action on renewable energy
Germany is aiming to provide between 80 and 100 per cent of
its energy needs through renewables by 2050. …even more ambitious than increasing the amount of renewable energy in Germany is its plan to phase out nuclear power.
Germany’s green light for energy, Sydney Morning Herald, July 14, 2010 Europe is baffled as to why Australia does not do more, writes Mathew Murphy. “…… Germany is so far ahead of countries such as Australia in terms of renewable energy and attitudes towards climate change.
”Australia is seen as a highly polluting country, yet it has so much sun and renewable resources. My question for you is why does it not do more?”………
It is a question that baffles many Europeans and one that now lies at the feet of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Continue reading
Energy from solar getting cheaper than from nuclear
proposed new nuclear plants would generate power at a cost of 14 to 18 cents per kilowatt-hour. But commercial-scale solar developers are already offering utilities electricity at 14 cents or less per kWh.
(USA) Solar power now cheaper than nuclear in North Carolina FACING SOUTH 12 July 2010, While the price of solar photovoltaic systems has been falling for decades, the cost of new nuclear plants has been climbing — and a historic crossover point has been reached in North Carolina, where solar power is now cheaper than nuclear. Continue reading
Abundant Solar energy going to waste is USA’s heat wave
America sizzles in heat, but remains unclear on tapping into it | BrighterEnergy.org, 8 July 2010, As much of the East Coast wilts in a heat wave at the moment, there seems to be a lot of solar energy going to waste. In Washington DC, the heat may be making it even more difficult for the nation’s politicians to work on an agreement that might make the most of all this free energy. Continue reading
Urgent need for 100% renewables to replace Hazelwood
Replace Hazelwood with 100% renewable energy Otway Ranges Climate Action (ORCA), 6/7/2010, The undersigned groups and individual climate campaigners support an inclusivecampaign to urgently Replace Hazelwood with 100% renewable energy, including baseload solar thermal energy (as presented in the Beyond Zero Emissions, Zero Carbon Australia 2020 report).
The undersigned:* strongly support the Replace Hazelwood campaign;
* support using renewable energy sources and increased efficiency to replace 100% of energy currently supplied by Hazelwood;
* particularly support the use of proven baseload Solar Thermal technology; and
* reject the use of fossil gas as an alternative fossil fuel…………
» Replace Hazelwood with 100% renewable energy Otway Ranges Climate Action (ORCA)
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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