Friends of the Earth are under attack. But this is just the beginning of an ideological war by the government against all environmental groups. On the ABC 730 show aired April 10, Liberal MPs Alex Hawke and Matt Canavan singled … Continue reading 5 steps every #FriendOfFoE needs to take
Numerous wind farm developments across Victoria may face termination due to the highly inflexible and restrictive nature of the Napthine government’s anti-wind farm laws and permit rules.
The Weekly Times report that the 20 companies successfully granted permits prior to the introduction of these laws have been denied the ability to make simple upgrades to their farm turbines.
These upgrades – designed merely to implement new and more efficient technology – would in no way infringe on conditions already held.
What’s more, the reluctance of the Napthine government and its Planning Minister Matthew Guy to accommodate for such rudimentary modifications could see the loss of considerable, and much-needed, revenue and employment to regional communities. Continue reading “Victoria’s anti-wind farm legislation now threatens the viability of pre-approved wind projects”
This article was published by Renew Economy.
On Tuesday April 8, Friends of the Earth launched its fact-finding RET Review Road Trip at the Hepburn Wind farm—the birthplace of community energy in Australia.
The visit to the Hepburn Wind farm is the first stop in a three-month road trip to get a real understanding of the impact energy policy, and particularly the Renewable Energy Target, has on Victorian communities. We’ve invited Dick Warburton to join us.
As readers will know, the Abbott government has initiated a review of the Renewable Energy Target. The government appointed Dick Warburton (AO LVO), former Caltex chairman who Renew Economy (among other media outlets) describes as a “climate change denier,” to chair the review.
With these credentials, it’s no wonder people fear the Warburton-led panel will recommend weakening the Renewable Energy Target.
A weakened Renewable Energy Target will set Australia back. Research by IES Advisory and RepuTex shows this outcome cost jobs, investment, and hurt Australian businesses. The Renewable Energy Target review threatens $10 billion dollars worth of investment, 3,556 construction jobs, and up to 600 full time jobs.
Friends of the Earth has invited Dick Warburton to join our RET Road Trip so he can engage with communities and understand how they are affected by our energy choices. We’ll meet with people that have benefitted from renewable energy, but also, people who have endured pollution from fossil fuels.
We believe our fact-finding mission can help Mr Warbuton make an informed decision about the Renewable Energy Target.
While Mr Warburton has not responded to our invite, we remain hopeful he’ll join us at scheduled events over the next few months. After all, strong community engagement is essential to making a decision about a policy as important at the Renewable Energy Target.
What did we find in Hepburn where over twenty community members braved the rain to discuss the Renewable Energy Target? Continue reading “RET Review Road Trip #1: Hepburn Wind farm”
Today, Yes 2 Renewables will launch its fact-finding RET Review Road Trip at the Hepburn Wind farm—the birthplace of community energy in Australia. The visit to the Hepburn Wind farm is the first stop of an 11-week road trip to … Continue reading Yes 2 Renewables launch RET Road Trip!
On the first sitting day of the Victorian Parliament for 2014, Yes 2 Renewables supporters gathered on the steps to distribute a Citizens Briefing to politicians. We were joined by members of Darebin Climate Action Now, Yarra Climate Action Now and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.
Government politicians are ill-advised on wind energy. If they advisors can’t get it right then it’s up to citizens to brief them properly. Our briefing debunked the myths surrounding wind energy. Collating research from authoritative energy analysts and public health experts, the Citizens Briefing shows wind energy is clean, safe, and valuable sector to develop in Victoria.
Over three hours we managed to distribute 250 Citizens Briefings to politicians, staffers and journalists. Notable recipients of our briefing include Deputy Premier Peter Ryan, Planning Minister Matthew Guy (the minister responsible for the anti-wind farm laws), Andrew Katos (South Barwon MP), and Clem Newton-Brown (Prahran MP). Continue reading “Citizens’ Briefing on Wind Energy: A Wrap Up”
Yes 2 Renewables will kick off 2014 with a bang. We invite you to join us for a screening of the wind energy documentary, The Way the Wind Blows, on Tuesday February 4. The event will also feature Q&A with the … Continue reading EVENT: ‘The Way the Wind Blows’ film screening and director Q&A
Environment group Friends of the Earth say there’s no need for Alcoa to be granted a license to generate electricity at their Anglesea coal power plant. Rather, the plant that came online in the 1960s should be retired—delivering public health and climate change benefits for Victorians.
The current state of the energy market makes the retirement of the coal power plant possible. There’s now an oversupply of fossil fuel generators in the energy system.
The oversupply is due to decreasing electricity demand from increased energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources such as rooftop solar and wind farms coming online.
In its application, Alcoa says the impacts of not granting the license on electricity prices and reliability must be considered. Removing 150 megawatts of polluting coal power is really a drop in the ocean in terms of power prices. The impact of rejecting Alcoa’s generation license on electricity prices would be virtually undetectable.
Retiring the Alcoa coal power station will barely affect power prices, yet will deliver benefits for the local community who are sick of pollution spewing over their community. It will also deliver sizable carbon emissions savings and help Victorians address climate change. Continue reading “No need for polluting Alcoa coal plant”
Friends of the Earth Australia welcome the concept of a wind farm at the Tamar Valley pulp mill site.
A wind farm at the proposed pulp mill site is a strong concept that would create jobs and attract investment to northern Tasmania.
If the wind farm comes to fruition it would be a leading example for how communities can transition from the old 20th Century industry to the high-tech 21st Century economy.
A wind farm at the site of a failed pulp mill could attract high-value Information and Communications Technology firms and investment to the region.
As we’ve discussed previously on ABC Radio, forward-looking companies such as Google, Apple and Facebook are are aiming for 100 percent renewable energy. They’re locating data centres that store the information we access online (such as YouTube videos) near renewable energy generators. Continue reading “Wind farm for pulp mill site a strong concept”
At 12:30pm on Grand Final day, Australia’s wind farms were generating enough electricity to power 783 MCGs. Wind energy is clean and safe. It creates jobs investment and drought-proof income for farmers. Importantly, wind farms cut carbon emissions and help … Continue reading How many MCGs can Australia’s wind farms power?
In the lead up to the VCAT’s directions hearing on the Cherry Tree Range wind farm proposed for Trawool in central Victoria, the BEAM Mitchell Environment Group has written to VCAT detailing new evidence which bolsters the case that wind energy is clean and safe (The Weekly Times).
The local group hopes VCAT will make a quick determination about the fate of the Cherry Tree wind farm. BEAM President Richard Telford:
“BEAM has closely followed the progress of the VCAT hearing and are encouraged by the very recent findings of the NSW Planning Assessment Commission,” says
“BEAM Mitchell Environment Group remains supportive of the Cherry Tree Wind Farm proposal. BEAM continues to be of the opinion that the benefits to our community far exceed any potential for negative impact.”
“We believe there are merits to determining an outcome as soon as possible.” Continue reading “Community group shows support for local wind farm in letter to VCAT”
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