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)
Solar energy going ahead in Colorado
New funding for green energy announced, July 4, Denver Examiner, Leslee Schmitt In his weekly radio and online address yesterday, President Obama announced almost $2bn in guaranteed loans to two solar companies………..Colorado Senator Michael Bennet commented on the loan guarantees in Boulder yesterday. “I think we have the potential to beat all 50 states in terms of creating an energy-independent future for our kids, creating a cleaner climate and driving our economy as well. Washington may not be ready or willing to compete with China, but Colorado is.” New funding for green energy announced
BHP, Climate Doubters, involved now in Australia’s CSIRO
A poor climate for debate at CSIRO, The Age, Paddy Manning, July 3, 2010 QUESTIONS are being raised about the closeness of BHP Billiton and the CSIRO under chief executive Megan Clark. A former technology vice president at BHP, Clark was appointed in late 2008 ……. there is concern about the imbalance in research funding at CSIRO, particularly in responses to climate change. Continue reading
Visual guide to Zero Carbon Australia
The Oil Drum: Australia/New Zealand | Zero Carbon Australia by Phil Hart on July 2, 2010 The Oil Drum: “…..key graphics and information from the synopsis report by Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE). Note also the launch of the full report in Melbourne on 14th July.
Energy efficiency, gas and renewables, could replace coal power
The grimy valley struggles on, Reportage Enviro, 2 July 2010 Jenny Jägerhorn “………………….The brown-coal-fired generation plants in the valley account for 85 per cent of Victoria’s greenhouse contributions. Hazelwood power station produces up to 16 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, which is almost 15 percent of Victoria’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, and 3 percent of Australia’s total carbon emissions. Continue reading
Renewable energy- UK feed-in tariff a boost to rural incomes
Rural estates and farms could use the new renewable energy feed-in tariff scheme to increase their annual income by tens of thousands of pounds each year
UK – Renewable energy feed-in tariffs set to transform rural estate incomes, according to Knight Fr Meat Trade news Daily, 30 June 2010, Key points: Continue reading
Young voters will judge Gillard on Climate Change action
The new Prime Minister has an opportunity to win voters with a fresh approach to climate change. Last year, 97.5 per cent of the 37,000 young people who voted in Youth Decide, a national youth referendum organised by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, supported stronger cuts in emissions than what was then offered by the ALP…
…At the next election, for the first time, more than one in five voters will be of Generation Y. Young people’s future, and Julia Gillard’s future, will depend on her ability to implement effective climate change solutions.
Gen Y to Julia: Take a bold stance for our climate, Sydney Morning Herald, from Australian Youth Climate Coalition, JOEL DIGNAM, June 28, 2010, Julia Gillard can be more than Australia’s first female Prime Minister: she can be our first prime minister to take the necessary steps to tackle carbon pollution.
Now Julia Gillard is in a perfect space to take prompt action to position the ALP as the only major party with a serious climate policy. Continue reading
Australia must act on Climate Change, but Nuclear is Not the Answer
Australian climate could be a “harbinger of change” to the rest of the world. What scientists say we have ahead of us if global warming is not prevented, such as Severe droughts and Fires, are already rife in Australia as climate change warms their already hot environment……
……All eyes will be on Australia in the coming years. It may well show a bleak future for the rest of us, unless we act now to prevent further global warming. Global Warming In Australia: A Climate Changing | Global Changes
Renewable energy would be a vote winner for Gillard
Green power an easy win for Australia-scientists , Australia needs CO2 price but other steps should come first* More support for wind, solar key to climate policy puzzle By David Fogarty, , June 29 (Reuters) – Australia’s new leader should ramp up renewable energy use and enshrine tougher energy efficiency standards to fight global warming, leading climate scientists said on Tuesday, describing them as easy policy wins…. Continue reading
Bendigo calls on Australian Govt for Solar Energy
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 