Australia ideal for DESERTEC style solar and wind energy
… a 30 x 30 km solar farm in central Australia would meet the national electricity demand during daylight hours and allow Australia to become an exporter of clean electricity. .
A “Desertec” Solar Farm Could Help Power Australia, Renewable Energy News by Energy Matters , 4 April 2010, Siemens Ltd last month announced a technology blueprint for energy and water sustainability in Australia by 2030. The research, titled “Picture the Future: Australia – Energy and Water (PTF)”, was performed by numerous Siemens researchers and validation processes involved the assistance of 22 of Australia’s leading industry bodies; including the CSIRO, ABARE, the Bureau of Meteorology and The Clean Energy Council. Continue reading
Powerful future for wind energy in South Australia
South Australia Wind Energy To Power Past 1,000 Megawatts Renewable Energy News, by Energy matters, 6 April 2010, South Australian Premier Mike Rann says his state’s position as a leader in renewable energy will be reaffirmed when the 1000th megawatt of wind power capacity is brought online by July this year. Continue reading
Rudd urged to attend nuclear security summit
Mr Obama has made safeguarding nuclear material a major issue as countries increasingly look to atomic power.
Push for PM to attend nuclear security summit, DANIEL FLITTON April 3, 2010 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is being urged to join a growing global push to safeguard the world’s nuclear supplies and stop nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists……The US embassy in Canberra confirmed yesterday the invitation for Mr Rudd to attend the summit was still open, despite the Prime Minister’s office saying last month Mr Rudd could not attend as the timing clashed with plans to discuss health reforms with state premiers……..It is believed Mr Rudd had been specially asked to speak at the meeting, expected to draw about 40 world leaders – including from Russia, France, Indonesia, Israel, India and Pakistan – for two days of talks beginning on April 12…………….Mr Obama has made safeguarding nuclear material a major issue as countries increasingly look to atomic power.
$Million salaries for nuclear power industry executives
Salary Survey: Nuclear Exec Earns $3 Million, Energy Section, Amy Harder, April 2, 2010 The nuclear power industry may be stagnant, but the sector’s top trade group is banking on turning that around — and as one sign, it’s giving its top executive a hefty salary.
Review: Nuke waste, “nukes for peace”, Climate Change, Iran
Review: Australia. A critical time for Australia – Senate Inquiry into Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan, but local community excluded from attendance. W.A plan to use Oakajee port for uranium shipments. Alarming report from CSIRO – Climate Change well underway in Australia. “Climate Sceptics” influence grows.
International: U.S. safety worries with aging nuclear reactors,while France’s cost-cutting threatening safety of new reactors. Nuclear power being promoted as part of nuclear non proliferation! Iran building more nukes? – Israel threatening action on Iran. Continuing legal and financial battles for U.S. nuclear industry. A political move to thwart California’s renewable energy industries. – the week that has been
Despite huge renewable energy resources, Australia is way behind in clean energy
Australia lagging in clean energy investment, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Sarah Clarke Mar 26, 2010 A global analysis of clean energy investment has found that Australia ranks 14th on the list of G20 countries, behind Mexico and Turkey. Continue reading
Bigger than last year!Earth Hour 8.30pm-9.30pm Sat 27 March
VIDEO: Sydney Lord Mayor on Earth Hour – Environment – News | Central 24 Mar 10 A RECORD 88 countries and regions took part in Earth Hour last year. This will be surpassed this year with 100 countries and more than one billion people expected to switch off the lights on Saturday (March 27) at 8.30pm.
Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore said that Earth Hour had taken on greater significance in the ‘’post-Copenhagen’’ era where world leaders had failed to agree on significant carbon emissions reductions.The event began in Sydney three years ago as an encouragement to world leaders to act on climate change.
In Japan, Tokyo Tower will go dark and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin will turn off its lights. Countries involved for the first time include Madagascar, Kosovo, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Cambodia, the Czech Republic, Paraguay, Ecuador and the US Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
VIDEO: Sydney Lord Mayor on Earth Hour – Environment – News | Central
Wind power for Western Australia
Solar technology for Canberra stores
” “Retailers often have expansive roof spaces that should be perfect for capturing the sun’s rays, a clean resource Australia has in abundance.”
Woolworths Pumping Petrol With Solar Power : Renewable Energy News 23 March 2010, Last year, Woolworths Limited announced that due to the ACT’s generous gross feed in tariff system, the company had selected Canberra as its first location nationwide for the installation of renewable energy generation technology. Continue reading
USA, Australia Lag Behind, China leads, in Renewable Energy Policy
Countries without such policy frameworks – including the U.S., Japan and Australia – lag behind
China Leads G-20 Nations In Renewable Energy Finance And Investmentin Solar Industry:25 March 2010 For the first time, China led the U.S. and other G-20 members in 2009 clean energy investments and finance, according to a new study by The Pew Charitable Trusts. Continue reading
Australia’s right wing sabotages Earth Hour
In Australia the Conservative Leadership Foundation’s campaign includes posters and brochures; one poster proclaims: ”Don’t be stuck in the dark with the Communists. Turn your lights on!”
Earth Hour supporters left in the dark TOM ARUP , Sydney Morning Herald March 25, 2010 A THINK tank founded and chaired by the Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has launched a campaign to promote an anti-Earth Hour event – urging people to turn their lights on. Continue reading
Earth Hour Saturday 27 March 8.30 – 9.30 pm
To register for Earth Hour visit www.earthhour.org.au (it’s free!).
Bright sparks say lights off | Northern Rivers News 25 March 2010, “Earth Hour started in Australia so imagine if every school and business across Australia came on board on the Friday to ‘launch’ Earth Hour – we would be the first people on the planet to do that!”…
..Earth Hour is an annual event co-ordinated by the World Wildlife Fund Australia, which is asking people to turn off essential lighting and machines, and unplug appliances at power points, for one hour from 8.30pm this Saturday, March 27. The event has grown steadily since it began in Sydney in 2007 and last year hundreds of millions of people from 4189 cities in 88 countries took part….
To register for Earth Hour visit www.earthhour.org.au (it’s free!).
WWF is also asking people to make the commitment to reduce their footprint on an ongoing basis. You can measure your current environmental impact on the footprint calculator at earthhour.org.
Nuclear waste problem likely to end the ‘nuclear renaissance’
ANALYSIS – Toxic waste weighs on revival of nuclear industry Reuters, by Ayesha Rascoe, 17 March 2010, “…LEGAL LIABILITY ANOTHER ISSUE Nuclear power producers also have to grapple with the legal liabilities of owning waste. The Energy Department was supposed to take ownership of waste in 1998, but that has not happened
Utilities “don’t like the idea of this long-term liability over which they really have no control,” said Robert Fri of Resources for the Future.
With no place for the used fuel to go, the nuclear waste has to stay on site even when plants are shut down. There are about 14 shut-down reactors where waste remains at the site.
Dealing with technical and legal issues will not be easy. But the biggest obstacle for the new commission will most likely be overcoming political opposition.
ANALYSIS – Toxic waste weighs on revival of nuclear industry | Business News | Reuters
Australia’s grassroots Climate Action movement to focus on green jobs
June 5, World Environment Day, was adopted as a national day of climate action,
Climate Action Summit 2010: A step forward Green Left, Ewan Saunders, 21 March 2010Three hundred climate activists participated in Australia’s second national Climate Action Summit in Canberra on March 13-15, marking an important step forward for the grassroots climate movement in this country…………. Continue reading
‘Baseload’ power planned for Australia, in huge solar energy plant
Cobra Energy Eyes $1 Billion Solar Power Plant For Australia – Ecofriend, Mar 19 2010, Eco Factor: Massive solar power plant designed to generate 250MW of energy.Cobra Energy has unveiled plans to develop a massive $1 billion solar power plant in Australia that will be able to generate up to 250MW of renewable electric power. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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