USA, Europe want wind power, but split on nuclear
Opinions on building more nuclear power plants are more mixed and vary by country. The public is more or less equally divided in the U.S., Britain and France but clear majorities are opposed in Italy (60%), Spain (63%) and even more strongly in Germany (77%)…….
U.S., Europe back wind farms but split on nuclear power – Green House , 14 Oct 10, The main findings of the poll, taken between Sept. 15 and 21, 2010, include: * Big majorities of the public in all six countries favor the building of more wind farms in their countries, Continue reading
Victoria determined to close down dirty Hazelwood coal power station
Greens MP Greg Barber said new climate change laws allowed the government to legislate Hazelwood out of existence without compensation being due.
Dirty coal station ‘will be closed’, Sydney Morning Herald, Richard Willingham, October 14, 2010 PREMIER John Brumby is ”completely confident” Australia’s dirtiest power station will be closed, with or without federal help. Continue reading
Lies about ethical investments, lies about Climate Change
Today’s news – articles about “ethical investments”. That turns out be an issue for “Secrets and Lies”. Some companies are described as ethical because they claim not to invest in uranium. But – read the fine print, where it sometimes goes on to say “where uranium is directly intended for nuclear weapons fuel”. Now that’s a nice copout, isn’t it?
Another issue for “Secrets and Lies” – the enormously successful push by fossil fuel companies to set up the incorrect story that scientific opinion is “equally” divided on Global Warming and Climate Change.
One silly part of this is that climate scientists are accused of having a secret agenda to promote “socialism”.
Strange – because the nuclear and fossil fuel lobbies also want governments to cover the costs of nuclear power setup, security, and waste disposal – apparently nuclear socialism is OK!
Australia’s Climate Minister trying to weaken action on Climate Change
The Greens will have the critical say in passing a legislated carbon price when they pick up the balance of power in the Senate after June 30 next year
Greens must compromise on global warming, minister warns Patricia Karvelas and Joe Kelly The Australian * October 13, 2010 CLIMATE Change Minister Greg Combet has warned the Greens they need to compromise on climate change if they want action…… Continue reading
Broadcast Australia goes renewable energy
A 15kW wind turbine was installed, along with a 5kW solar power system. Surplus generated electricity is stored in two banks of deep cycle batteries, providing a total of 5800 amp hour storage; enough to provide full power autonomy for two days….The Broadcast Australia network covers approximately 580 transmission sites located throughout the metropolitan, regional and rural areas of Australia.
Broadcast Australia Powers Site With Wind And Solar Energy : Renewable Energy News, 7 Oct 10, Broadcast Australia has upgraded a broadcast transmission site in Tasmania to be powered by renewable energy. Continue reading
Australian govt can use carbon pricing to provide renewable energy infrastructure
The construction of new renewable energy grid infrastructure is one example of an investment-centred measure. Expanded electricity grid infrastructure would open up renewable resources for sustainable development and help overcome a non-market barrier to clean energy deployment……
The Gillard government and those in the parliament who support effective action on climate change can use carbon-pricing legislation to secure funding for an ambitious nation-building climate policy agenda.
Want to stop climate change? Move beyond carbon pricing, Rooted, Leigh Ewbank, October 7, 2010 by Crikey: Continue reading
USA federal govt approves huge solar project on govt land
the projects in Southern California involve a square mile of glimmering solar panels near Victorville and a large array of satellite dish-like sun catchers covering about 10 square miles in the remote Imperial Valley.Both could start transmitting electricity to the state grid by the end of 2011 or early 2012.
Feds approve 2 Calif solar plants on public land, MontereyHerald.com :By JASON DEAREN Associated Press: 10/05/2010 SAN FRANCISCO—For the first time, federal land managers gave final approval Tuesday for the construction of two large solar installations on public lands that could power hundreds of thousands of homes with renewable energy. Continue reading
The White House to get its solar panels back
These new panels go far beyond what Jimmy Carter installed and then Ronald Reagan tore down. Carter’s $30,000 rig was installed in 1979 to heat water, which it did.
Reagan’s tear down was part of his assault on the green power industry on behalf of big oil and nuclear power.
Obama says he’ll now re-instate solar water heating to the White House roof, AND will add photo-voltaic cells that will generate electricity. by Harvey Wasserman, 6 Oct 10, Continue reading
UK Feed In Tariff delivering solar energy boost
“The scheme is delivering exactly what it was meant to do in terms of a rapid increase in the number of installations, creation of jobs and increase in the amount of renewable energy generated
UK Solar Power Feed In Tariffs Delivering : Renewable Energy News, 5 Oct 10, Rooftop solar energy systems are driving uptake of the UK government’s pilot solar feed-in tariff scheme, Continue reading
USA renewable energy gaining, while nuclear power stagnant
“Renewable energy has proven itself to be a solid investment – growing rapidly and nipping at the heels of the stagnant nuclear power industry.”…..
(USA) Renewables Gaining Ground, Without Congress’ Help , E Magazine.com (By Brita Belli), 4 Oct 10, Continue reading
Solar electricity in direct competition with coal
“Germany is a world leader in solar power but it has half as much sun per square metre as Australia,” he adds. … solar power is in direct competition with coal- generated electricity.
Solar Energy Gets a Boost, But Offers Much More, By Stephen de Tarczynski MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct 4, 2010 (IPS) – Proponents of renewable energy say that a planned large-scale solar power plant in Australia’s northern Victoria state, which will produce enough output to provide electricity to 60,000 homes, is just a fraction of what could be achieved if federal and state governments were fully committed to harnessing solar energy. Continue reading
Ontario closes coal plants with private investment in renewables
The Ontario Government says the province has attracted over CAD $1 billion in private sector investment through these three renewable energy projects, which will add almost 300 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity….. more than 80 per cent of power generation came from emissions-free sources. Ontario has already closed four coal-fired powered generation four years ahead of schedule.
Ontario’s Government Showcases Wind And Solar Power Projects : Renewable Energy News, 4 Oct 10,”……. in the province of Ontario, solid headway is being made in renewable energy, Continue reading
Renewable energy is happening, and nuclear isn’t
I know that this is supposed to be an anti-nuclear blog. But I get bored with all the stuff in the media about nuclear. For one thing, it’s just not happening – the “nuclear renaissance”.
For another thing, the Australian media is full of hype about uranium. Today – several articles on how wonderfully well Paladin Energy is doing in Africa- oh you gotta invest! Nary a word about how Paladin is pulling out of Niger because uranium workers are getting kidnapped by al-Qaida.
But for the main thing – Renewable Energy is happening! It’s happening both on a big scale – how business and the media love BIG!
It’s happening on a small scale – where communities, schools and households are getting truly clean energy, and making a profit out of it.
Not apparently a scenario for Australia. Are we some sort of cultural outpost – where the idea of energy has to be always BIG, corporate-owned, and coal or uranium fueled?
Australia’s brain drain for solar, and now wave power
Clean energy advocates are concerned that wave power could experience the same sort of brain drain that has hit the Australian solar industry over the past decade.
Rough ride for sea power, Sydney Morning Herald, Mathew MurphyOctober 4, 2010 A LACK of government support for the fledgling wave-energy industry is forcing Australian companies to increasingly invest overseas despite having the world’s best wave resource off our coastline. Continue reading
Decentralised renewable energy profitable in Italy
Italian towns turn a profit with the wind at their back, The Age, Elisabeth Rosenthal,Tocco da CasauriaOctober 4, 2010 THE towering wind turbines that rise from gnarled ancient olive groves here speak to something extraordinary happening across Italy. Continue reading
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