Griffith University’s Zero Energy building
Australia’s First Zero-Energy Teaching and Research Building Unveiled, Inhabitat by Bridgette Meinhold, 06/25/10 Griffith University in Australia recently secured funding for a $21 million dollar research facility that will be the country’s first zero-emission and self-powered building driven by solar-hydrogen energy. Continue reading
Australia’s Enhanced Renewable Energy Target legislation passed
Australia’s Enhanced Renewable Energy Target : Renewable Energy News, 25 June 2010, After last minute amendments to satisfy all parties, long awaited changes to Australia’s Renewable Energy Target were finally passed on Thursday, changes some are calling the biggest climate change reform in Australia’s history. Continue reading
Renewable energy the right mix for South East Asia
Greenpeace urge SE Asian to invest in renewable energy, WikiPeers.com 23 June 2010, “……Greenpeace International senior energy expert Sven Teske explained in his report, Energy (R)evolution: A Sustainable World Energy Outlook, that if the Southeast Asian nations will engage in producing renewable energy from the sources he mentioned, it would bring almost 100 percent boost in their economy by 2050 as it would certainly generate 700,000 jobs and 30 percent more jobs up until by 2020. Continue reading
China moving to be world’s renewable energy leader
China’s Green Energy Programs, and More, CRS, Secrecy News, June 23rd, 2010 by Steven Aftergood One thing that is even more impressive than China’s nuclear history is its emerging green energy future. “China has set ambitious targets for developing its… renewable energy resources with a major push of laws, policies and incentives in the last few years,” according to a new report (pdf) from the Congressional Research Service. Continue reading
Australia well placed to be hub of renewable energy export industry
Could Australia be the hub of a renewable energy export industry powering the homes, industry and electric car fleets of our region? In fact, our proportion of the global renewable energy resource is much higher than it is for coal.
Do renewable energy by the numbers, and it all adds up, Sydney Morning Herald, MIKE SANDIFORD June 24, 2010 “………..Geographically dispersed production – spreading out renewable energy farms so as not to rely on weather conditions in one area – is one way to improve energy stability and security. And our nation-continent, stretching across climate and time zones, appears ready-made for that.
Two new studies published by the Melbourne Energy Institute look at just these issues. Continue reading
New hope for Australia to get real Climate Change policy
That [lack of a carbon tax] may change after the election if the Greens hold the balance of power in their own right.
Wong negotiates renewable energy plans, Sydney Morning Herald, June 23, 2010 The Rudd government is preparing to unveil a new climate action policy ahead of the next federal election, likely in a few months. Continue reading
Agreement on Australia’s renewable energy scheme
Review: Resources tax, GNEP to IFNEC, Renewables
Australia: Mainstream media continues to publicise the billionaires’ revolt against Resources Super Profit Tax – as though it’s going to end Australia’s resources industries. (At the same time, China signing up for long term resources buying). Uranium market remains in the doldrums. ERA’s annual profit halved. Moves in Parliament to get REAL renewable energy legislation. Victorian Labor opposing uranium sales to Russia. Senator Scott Ludlam keeps asking those awkward nuclear questions.
International: USA gets new renewable energy coalition. GNEP rises up again under a new name – International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC). South Africa abandoning Pebble Bed Nuclear Reactor project. China selling nuclear reactors to Pakistan, seeing that USA is selling them to India. USA’s proposed Climate Bill is in fact a massive bailout for nuclear industry. Punjab children retarded due to uranium contamination. Anti nuclear protest at APEC. – the week that has been.
Greens and Liberal Senators push for Solar and Wind Power
Solar, wind power may meet 2020 energy use, Sydney Morning Herald, TOM ARUP, June 22, 2010 A MASSIVE introduction of solar-thermal power plants and wind farms would allow Australia to generate all its energy needs from renewable technologies by 2020, research shows.The report, to be announced today by the retiring Liberal Victorian senator Judith Troeth, the Greens senator Christine Milne and the Independent Nick Xenophon, finds a 100 per cent renewable plan by 2020 would cost $37 billion a year, in public and private money – or 3 per cent of Gross Domestic Product. Continue reading
New truly clean renewable energy lobby in U.S.A.
New energy coalition calls for passage of clean energy bill, Energy Portal eu, 20 June 2010, On the heels of President Obama’s June 15 speech calling for clean energy legislation, a new coalition of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and biofuels organizations today called on the U.S. Senate Continue reading
Tim Flannery goes anti nuclear?
Time Flannery, previous darling of the Australian nuclear lobby – seems to have got off his pro nuclear horse – well – to some degree anyway. He’s just against it for Australia.
But – that’s incurred the wrath of quite a few pro-nuclear columnists – he seems to be out of favour now
Flannery, quoted 20 June 2010, “Why should we take the most expensive option in this country, which has always been recognized as having the most expensive and difficult option.
We are going to see a whole lot of other technologies and innovations which are now well under way which we could use instead of nuclear power……. Such as concentrated PV technology, geothermal technology, wave power, wind power.”
Renewable energy, Australian media, and BHP Billiton
Across the world’s media – so much about oil spill, about wonderful nuclear power, about soccer … but also quite a lot about Renewable Energy. Yes, renewable energy is happening, and it deserves more coverage.
Of course, in Australia, the news is all about the dreaded super profit resources tax, and how awful our P.M is supposed to be. They’ve done a good job – the corporate-dominated media.
Meanwhile –
BHP Billiton are probably finding this whole tax saga quite convenient, as there are several other factors holding up the expansion of Olympic Dam. China is cutting down on energy use. Uranium prices in the doldrums.
Apart from the serious legal and environmental concerns about Olympic Dam, there’s the unmentioned issue of seismic activity.
Last year’s incident that paralysed the main shaft activity is still a mystery. It could turn out the the whole expansion operation is unsafe and unviable, and BHP can conveniently blame the Australian government, when it abandons the project
Australian govt wimping out on renewable energy legislation?
Several sources are reporting the Federal Government has withdrawn legislation related to a revamp of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) and that it may not be presented again until after the next Federal election.
Reports : Renewable Energy Target Legislation Stalled : Renewable Energy News June 18: A Revised Draft Legislation Program for the Senate released last night shows the RET vote will be going ahead, but rescheduled Continue reading
Decentralised solar power an energy answer for remote and urban areas
Australia & New Zealand solar PV market report, Renewable Energy Focus, 17 June 2010 In Australia and New Zealand, solar photovoltaic (PV) market trends indicate burgeoning demand Continue reading
Spain increasing already profitable solar power industry
Despite cuts, Spain’s subsidy structure still enables renewable power producers to earn up to 10 times more than fossil fuel producers for their energy…..Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero .. believes that his country’s goals will be obtained through increased private investment.
Spain Shoots for 67 Percent More Renewable Energy, CALFINDER , 18 June 2010, In a draft proposal on its way to the European Commission, Spain proposes that renewable generation capacity increase to 70 gigawatts by 2020, up from 42 gigawatts currently. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 