On Renewable Energy: False Claims by Switkowski Report and the Nuclear Lobby
The promoters of nuclear power claim that we have to choose between coal and nuclear, that there is no alternative. This is a false choice, between BHP-Billiton and … BHP-Billiton.
Nuclear power: no solution to climate change, Green Left, quoting Mark Diesendorf , 17 April 2010 “………The 2006 Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy Review, chaired by Dr Switkowski.. claimed that “nuclear power is the least-cost low-emission technology that can provide baseload power”. However, there was no basis in the report for such a gratuitous statement, which was outside the terms of reference of the report. Continue reading
University of Queensland leads the way with solar panels
UQ powers up with Australia’s ‘largest’ solar panel system – Industry News – Queensland Business Review, April 16, 2010 The largest roof top solar power panel installation in Australia will be built at the University of Queensland (UQ) St Lucia Campus in Brisbane.Premier Anna Bligh says the Queensland Government is investing $1.5 million to support the development of a $7.75 million 1.2 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) project at UQ……The system will form part of a larger micro-grid strategy to use renewable energy across the University’s other campuses over the next decade. UQ powers up with Australia’s ‘largest’ solar panel system – Industry News – Queensland Business Review
Reports show that renewable energy could provide majority of world’s electricity needs
A World Run On Low Carbon Energy No Pipe Dream : Renewable Energy News, 15 APRIL, 2010 |The myth of low carbon and renewable energy sources not being able to supply the majority, if not all, the developed world’s electricity requirements in the near future is being busted almost weekly in recent months. Continue reading
But anyway, Gareth Evans is right about nuclear fuel recycling.
In a perfect world. the plan to send enriched uranium and plutonium to USA and Russia, to fuel nuclear reactors, might be part of a good move. That would be the move to wind down all nuclear power plants. ( but I doubt that this is the intended plan)
It would also put a stop to the dirty dangerous industry of uranium mining.
However, Gareth Evans points out that recycling nuclear fuel simply creates new stockpiles of very dirty, very dangerous, radioactive wastes. Sure, Gareth Evans’ point of view promotes Australia’s uranium mining companies. But he’s right, anyway.
Uranium shares threatened by Nuclear Security Summit decisions
Nuclear Summit Changes Uranium Outlook ninemsn 14/04/2010 By Rudi Filapek-Vandyck US President Obama’s success in convincing world leaders the best way forward is through the conversion of hundreds of thousands of tons of weapons-usable nuclear fuel into non-military fuel for power stations might be good news for world peace, but probably not so for investors in uranium companies.
This week’s nuclear summit in Washington has ended with a general pledge by participants from all over the globe to convert hundreds of thousands of tons of weapons-usable nuclear fuel by 2014, plus an intention to set a 2012 summit in South Korea to measure progress.This inevitably means the supply-outlook has dramatically changed for the sector this week. Nuclear Summit Changes Uranium Outlook
graph from Purchasing 14 April, Uranium prices are stuck in a slump – 2010-04-14 18:23:54 | Purchasing
Like AREVA, nuclear energy company Silex buys into solar power
But the purchase leaves households interested in buying solar panels with a dilemma: by buying Australian-made panels, they are indirectly investing in nuclear energy as well.
Solar panel factory sees the sun again, Sydney Morning Herald BEN CUBBY, April 14, 2010 – THE biggest solar-panel factory in the southern hemisphere is to open in Sydney this morning – after it was rescued by a nuclear energy research company. Continue reading
Immense Solar Power Capacity on Desert Land
“Nuclear power for all of the United States is about 100 gigawatts. We can produce 90 on barren land with just solar in this tiny region,
(Canada) Solar Power in Ontario Could Produce Almost as Much Power as All U.S. Nuclear Reactors, Studies Find ScienceDaily (Apr. 14, 2010) — Solar power in southeastern Ontario has the potential to produce almost the same amount of power as all the nuclear reactors in the United States, according to two studies conducted by the Queen’s University Applied Sustainability Research Group located in Kingston, Canada. Continue reading
Yes, why isn’t Rudd at the Nuclear Summit?
Not much Australian media coverage of the Nuclear Summit either. Not a word on ABC Television last night.
Could it be that Rudd’s corporate backers, like BHP Billiton, are not very keen on Obama’s plan to get old nuclear weapons turned into fuel for commercial nuclear reactors? Perhaps Rudd would rather not be seen to be joining in undermining the uranium mining industry?
Chile sent weapons grade uranium, to become nuclear fuel for USA
The Associated Press documented the transfer, agreeing to keep the details secret until the material arrived safely in the United States.
The mission will be the first of many if Obama is to keep his promise.
Chile gives its last weapons-grade uranium to US By MICHAEL WARREN and MEG KINNARD (AP) – Google News Hostimg 12 April The Associated Press: Chile gives its last weapons-grade uranium to US.….. Continue reading
“Third Generation” Nuclear Reactors” safety, pollution, proliferation dangers
Why James Hansen is wrong on nuclear power | Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal, By Renfrey Clarke April 8, 2010 -“…….Third-generation reactors are in essence evolved versions of the pressurised-water installations that provide almost all of today’s nuclear energy. Now being built for the first time, “third-generation” plants are arguably still at the pre-commercial stage. Continue reading
The rush to roll out ‘second generation’ nuclear reactors
Why James Hansen is wrong on nuclear power | Links April 8, 2010“…….With both third- and fourth-generation nuclear plants outside the time bracket, what is left for environmentalists who hanker after nuclear power? The only option for them is the one embraced by the French and Chinese governments, and now, it seems, by the Obama administration in the US: an accelerated roll-out of second-generation nuclear plants, built to standardised designs following rushed or non-existent consultation with the plants’ future neighbours. Continue reading
Australian mainstream media’s pro-nuclear bias
by Christina Macpherson 8 April 2010. Yesterday’ s National Press Club Debate between Ziggy Spinowski, (pro-nuclear) and Bob Brown (anti-nuclear) was duly reported by Australia’s mainstream media.
And all these reports covered both points of view, both arguments.
BUT – look how the mainstream media chose to headline these. You wouldn’t know that Bob Brown was even there, would you?
Ziggy Switkowski: we need nuclear power for climate – THE AUSTRALIAN
Nuclear power ‘won’t fuel arms race’ ABC Online The head of Australia’s nuclear science agency has rejected claims that nuclear power in Australia could lead to nuclear weapons in the region. (surprise, surprise!)
Nuclear technology safer than coal shipping: chief Sydney Morning Herald AN AUSTRALIAN nuclear power industry would bring little risk of an environmental disaster such as the potential oil spill on the Great Barrier Reef, Ziggy Switkowski says.
Nuclear shift ‘likely’ The Age Nuclear energy advocate Ziggy Switkowski says he expects the public mood to shift in favour of nuclear in the next three years.
Desert Solar Project to Provide Jobs
Finally! One Big Solar Project Environment and Business Can Agree On, The Energy Collective, by Taylen Peterson on 04/06/2010 The plan involves the reuse of “dead” farmland in the San Joaquin Valley. Years of intense farming has left a huge amount of acreage overly salty and fallow. And unlike other proposed solar sites in California, especially the Mojave Desert, this land is not habitat to endangered species.
Smart grid for huge wind farm in Western Australia
Smart grid gets green light in Western Australia$600 milllion wind farm to be built by Vestas Australian Wind Technology and is expected to generate 206MW of power * ARN Staff (ARN) * 07 April, 2010 Continue reading
Lack of support closes political party”Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy”
Pro-nuclear party runs out of energy, The Canberra Times, BY PHILIP DORLING0, 7 Apr, 2010 Australia’s only strongly pro-nuclear power political party has exited the electoral stage with a whimper rather than a bang.The Australian Electoral Commission yesterday announced that it had accepted an application for voluntary party deregistration by Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy Australia. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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