Among the many commentaries on the budget, here’s our two cents’ worth as the budget relates to renewable energy and climate action. First, the big item is that the diesel fuel tax rebate for off-road use has remained. Had this been scrapped or altered, it would have of course raised a lot of revenue from… [Read more…]
May 8, 2012
by Ben Courtice
While wind farms are being blocked and stopped by state government legislation, gas plants are all go. But they aren’t necessarily very popular with their neighbours. Take the following two stories, one about the Port Campbell gas plant, the other about a proposed, monster 1500MW open-cycle gas plant at Dalton, in rural NSW (near Gunning).… [Read more…]
May 7, 2012
by Cam Walker
The following is a letter from last weeks Macedon Ranges Weekly. Where did the ‘No Go’ zones come from? Last year, the state government created a series of ‘No Go’ zones, which block wind energy developments across much of Victoria, including the Macedon – McHarg Ranges. The government seems to think these ranges extend almost… [Read more…]
May 4, 2012
by Ben Courtice
Friends of the Earth media release, May 3, 2012. The first project to be affected by the new NSW wind energy guidelines has been substantially reduced compared with its original vision. Windlab Systems and REpower Australia have announced a proposal which is 40% smaller than originally planned, from 90 to 52 turbines. The companies cite ‘community… [Read more…]
May 2, 2012
by Ben Courtice
Addendum, May 15: the list can be downloaded directly, in its most recent version, by clicking here – currently at 114 and still growing! Professor Simon Chapman and his team at the University of Sydney have reached triple figures with their list of health problems alleged to be caused by wind farms. Entitled “Is there… [Read more…]
May 1, 2012
by Ben Courtice
So the UK’s Telegraph has an article with the following headline and subheading: “Wind farms can cause climate change, finds new study” “Wind farms can cause climate change, according to new research, that shows for the first time the new technology is already pushing up temperatures.” Wow. And here were we foolish greenies, thinking they… [Read more…]
May 1, 2012
by Ben Courtice
Offshore windfarms are not generally considered economical in Australia because we have such a large (cheaper) onshore wind resource here: good winds over a large land area. We do have offshore oil and gas drilling in Australia – including exploration in areas three times the depth of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, in the Great Australian… [Read more…]
April 26, 2012
by Ben Courtice
This letter was published in the Bega District News last Friday 20th April. It answers one argument that anti-windfarm campaigners commonly raise: even though many of them don’t believe in climate change anyway, some suggest that wind farms actually have high greenhouse gas emissions because of the need for constant “spinning reserve” in fossil fuel… [Read more…]
April 24, 2012
by Cam Walker
Community Solar Comes to Yarra: a Forum on a Community Solar project for Yarra DATE Saturday May 19th TIME 11am, promptly concluding at 1pm VENUE Athol Gill Centre, 100 Hodgkinson St Clifton Hill. (Close to the 86 tram, Clifton Hill railway station & Clifton Hill bus interchange) Come for a cuppa, stay for the conversation.… [Read more…]
April 23, 2012
by Ben Courtice
What use is the Renewable Energy Target if we have the carbon price in place? Kane Thornton of the Clean Energy Council has written this piece defending the RET, published in the National Times. Let’s keep our power pants on Kane Thornton, April 20, 2012 Suggesting we don’t need a Renewable Energy Target because we… [Read more…]
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May 9, 2012
by Ben Courtice
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