Wave energy for South Australia
Wave power could roll in to South Australia’s west, ABC Rural News, 23/11/2010 Waves on the west coast of South Australia could soon be powering up towns in the region.Renewable energy technology company, Wave Rider Energy, will set up a pilot plant in the waters near Elliston.
The plant will turn the waves kinetic energy into mechanical energy, with a potential 250 kilowatts of power available………Wave power could roll in to South Australia’s west
Victorian Greens will promote transition from coal to renewable energy
Renewable energy has become a hot topic in the lead up to Victoria’s November 27 election, with the Clean Energy Council of Australia predicting a $9 billion cash windfall for the state from renewable energy projects.
Greens Pledge To Divert Millions From Coal Into Renewable Energy, Renewable Energy News : by Energy Matters, 19 Nov 10, The Victorian Greens say they will redirect $150 million away from a proposed coal-fired power station in the Latrobe Valley and put the money into renewable energy projects instead. Continue reading
USA needs combination of smart grid and renewable energy
Research and development is needed to prepare the electric grid for the coming onslaught of new solar and wind power, in much the way farmers must prepare the ground before sowing a crop, (image below from Repower America)
(USA) Report: Electric Grid R&D Must Parallel Expansion of Renewable Power, NYTimes.com, By JENNY MANDEL November 16, 2010 The Energy Department should expand its research on energy storage, long-distance electricity transmission and short-term weather forecasting in order to support the growing use of renewable energy, the American Physical Society says in a report released today. Continue reading
Victorian election – Labor better for renewable energy
an estimated 650 new jobs would be created each year through to 2016 in the construction and operation of renewable energy facilities……
Clean Energy Council Backs Brumby Renewable Energy News :by Energy Matters, 17 Nov 10, The Clean Energy Council (CEC) of Australia has thrown its support behind the Brumby Labor Government ahead of this month’s state election, after an independent report found Victoria would benefit by up to $9 billion in renewable energy investment under current State Government policies. Continue reading
The other side of BHP Billiton’s Annual Report
Threatening lives, the environment, and peoples’ future – An Alternative Annual Report on BHP Billiton 2009-2010 In this 25 page report, case studies question BHP’s record on human rights, transparency, and ecological justice.
“………..This report examines a number of BHP Billiton’s operations around the world. The collection of case studies highlights the disparity between BHP Billiton’s ‘Sustainability Framework’ and the reality of its operations.In the year 2009-2010 BHP Billiton has continued itsinvolvement in many controversial mines, is advancing riskyand unwanted projects….. Continue reading
IRENA -a new and growing international energy agency
Recognising the huge potential of renewable energy, IRENA’s Member States have joined together to establish an international organisation dedicated to facilitating the rapid development and deployment of renewable energy worldwide….Visit the IRENA website to learn more
IRENA – Building a New Energy Agency Renewables November 15, 2010 by Anja Atkinson0 On the 24th and 25th October, the International Renewable Energy Agency held it’s fourth session of the Preparatory Commission in Abu Dhabi. All together 300 delegates attended from more than 100 countries. Continue reading
Solar energy systems still a good buy
the price of solar systems has plummeted; the drop in the feed-in tariff has been cushioned by demand for green energy from AGL and feed-in tariffs paid to pensioners as a credit on their power bill will not be assessed as income under the government’s pension income test…..Solar installers resent solar power being blamed for increasing electricity prices, saying this is quite incorrect
Solar popularity still rising Coffs Coast Advocate, 15 Nov 10, SOLAR power subsidies are copping a drubbing from critics of both Federal and NSW State government’s ‘green energy’ schemes but solar installers say the sun is still shining brightly for those who would like to go sunny side up. Continue reading
Renewable energy city
Masdar City is powered by renewable energy and its buildings are covered in solar panels.It aims to have a zero carbon and zero waste environment.
VIDEO Sky News: Completely green city being built in UAE Completely green city being built in UAE, Sky News, 15 Nov 10, The United Arab Emirates is on track to produce a completely new – and rather unexpected source of future revenue – in the oil-rich country. Continue reading
Solar energy in Australia great potential, poor political support
Australia: enthusiastic uptake of solar power leads to cuts in state feed-in tariffs iStockAnalysts, November 10, 2010 Residential solar power installations in New South Wales reached 52MW by mid-2010, prompting the state government to reduce its generous feed-in tariff. Continue reading
Hillary Clinton’s and Julia Gillard’s unconvincing spin about Solar Energy
But are Clinton and Gillard serious? I doubt it. The giveaway, as always, is the funding. Australia is investing $50 million in the project……. enough to transform the world’s energy supply and prevent climate change? I doubt it….Such a project needs billions, not millions.
More solar spin – Daily Telegraph Mark Mann , November 07, 2010 According to US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, speaking in Melbourne yesterday: “We [the US and Australia] have a common goal of making solar energy competitive with conventional sources by the middle of this decade, 2015,” Continue reading
BUSTING THE NUCLEAR SPIN – theme for November
The nuclear industry is, in reality, in quite a mess. As French, American, South Korean companies scramble to sell nuclear power to the “Third World” – the industry stalls at home. The nuclear emperor’s new clothes are starting to be revealed to the world.
So – loads of money pour into this desperate sales pitch – while it becomes ever clearer that the nuclear industry is expensive, dangerous, and produces long-lasting toxic wastes – for which there is no storage solution.
Meanwhile – technologies for energy efficiency, and renewable energy get cheaper and more practical. And – renewable energy can be operated both as large scale projects on the grid – or as small-scale decentralised forms – very suitable for developing countries.
New South Wales govt promotes coal, cuts back on renewables
“The more [greenhouse gases] you emit, the more subsidies you get.”……..
Canary in the NSW coal mine Business Spectator Giles ParkinsonPublished , 2 Nov 2010 Even as the NSW government is cracking down on subsidies for renewable energy generation such as rooftop solar, it is ramping up the level of subsidies provided to its coal-fired power stations Continue reading
USA elections: will this lead to Sarah Palin in charge of nuclear weapons?
It is almost beyond belief to imagine the fair finger of Sarah Palin accessing the nuclear button but as Commander in Chief, that would indeed be her position.
THE ELECTION, Huffington Post. Helen Caldicott, 28 Oct 10, This is seen by many as a highly contentious mid-term US election, and not just for the people of the United States. Continue reading
Australia’s nuclear power spinners – theme for November
It is well accepted, (even by Ziggy Switkowski in his 2006 report) that Australia does not need nuclear power. Yet, Ziggy and other old nuclear lobbyists are now urgently “spinning” , promoting nuclear energy for Australia. And new spinners are joining them
Apologies to Bob Hawke – I left that old attention-seeker off the picture!
One reason for this nuclear spinning is the fact that Australia will be expected to take back international wastes, as part of its uranium export industry. So, by getting Australia into the entire nuclear fuel cycle, this would make a smoother transition from “our” nuclear wastes, to “theirs” too.
The radioactive waste question is becoming critical in Australia – with the government’s attempt to impose a dump on Aboriginal land, and with Lucas Heights wastes soon. due to return from England.
Hillary Clinton and Robert Gates visited Australia. Their mission? – to get Australia deeper into the US military machine, with Western Australia, like Pine Gap, part of the Space War project.
The USA’s urgent nuclear waste problem might have been on the agenda in talks with Julia Gillard. We, the great unwashed, would not know. (but for USA to export its nuclear rubbish to Australia could be a bit more difficult now – since the European Union declared that export of nuclear waste overseas is unsafe)
Australian Liberal MP wants “An Inconvenient Truth’ not shown in schools
The 2006 documentary, about former US vice-president Al Gore’s campaign to educate citizens about global warming, was a box-office success and won two Academy Awards.But Liberal MP Dennis Jensen, a well-known climate sceptic, is unhappy about its possible inclusion in the curriculum.”It’s a very popular work of fiction,” – Dr Jensen
MPs at odds over An Inconvenient Truth in school curriculum THE AUSTRALIAN, AAP * October 27, 2010 11:50AM FEDERAL MPs are divided over the proposal that a controversial climate change documentary be included in the national school curriculum.The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority reportedly has said An Inconvenient Truth had a place in modern history studies and English. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 