With Ford factory doors closing in Victoria last Friday, cleantech jobs in Geelong got a boost today with the Andrews government backing electric vehicle manufacturing alongside its ambitious Victorian Renewable Energy Target. Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced $500,000 in funding for SEA Automotive … Continue reading Cleantech Manufacturing Jobs get boost in Geelong as Ford doors close
Hepburn Wind is becoming a tourist destination for communities who are embarking on their own renewable energy projects. Members of the Geelong Sustainability Group have visited Australia’s first community-owned wind farm this weekend on a fact finding mission on community … Continue reading Hepburn Wind farm inspiring communities to grow renewables
Earthworker is a community-led initiative to provide sustainable, wealth-creating jobs that empower local communities and provide clean energy solutions. Forging unlikely alliances between trade unionists, environmentalists and small manufacturers, the project is a powerful and positive endeavour to revitalise local … Continue reading Earthworker seeks investment as mutualisation starts at Eureka’s Future
Renewable energy is a mainstream election issue in the marginal seat of South Barwon—which stretches from the suburbs of Geelong, down to the Surf Coast and out to Moriac. Anti-wind farm laws introduced by the Coaltion government in 2011 killed off the Surf … Continue reading Election Watch: Where do South Barwon candidates stand on renewable energy?
Renewable energy is a mainstream issue as the Victorian election campaign officially begins. The writs have been signed and the state is now in caretaker mode. On the first day of the 2014 Victorian election campaign, it’s worth taking a look … Continue reading Room for renewable energy commitments as Vic election campaign kicks off
Friends of the Earth‘s recent report on the costs of anti-wind farm laws introduced by former Premier Ted Baillieu, and supported by the Napthine government, has put renewable energy on the state election agenda.
The Age featured exclusive coverage of the research report. The Surf Coast Times and Macedon Ranges Guardian, newspapers in the battleground seats of South Barwon and Macedon, reported on the local impacts of the Coalition’s anti-wind farm laws.
These local impacts prompted Surf Coast councillor Eve Fisher to draft a motion calling for community-initiated projects to be exempted from the state government’s restrictive planning laws.
President of the Surf Coast Energy Group, Aaron Lewtas, has entered the debate. Lewtas sees wind energy as an opportunity to create jobs and strengthen economies while tackling climate change: Continue reading “Surf Coast Energy Group backs wind farms, jobs in Victoria”
Friends of the Earth‘s recent report on the costs of anti-wind farm laws introduced by former Premier Ted Baillieu, and supported by the Napthine government, has put renewable energy on the state election agenda.
The Age featured exclusive coverage of the research report. The Surf Coast Times and Macedon Ranges Guardian, newspapers in the battleground seats of South Barwon and Macedon, reported on the local impacts of the Coalition’s anti-wind farm laws.
These local impacts prompted President of the Geelong Sustainability Group, Dave Campbell, to chimed in on the issue. Campbell sees wind energy as a big opportunity for Geelong’s manufacturers: Continue reading “Geelong Sustainability Group back wind energy, jobs in Victoria”
After appearing in The Geelong Advertiser expressing concern about the Napthine government’s energy policy–which has killed of another renewable energy project in the Geelong/Surf Coast region–Yes 2 Renewables received the following letter from Geelong and Surf Coast locals, Mik Aidt and Anthony Gleeson.
Aidt and Gleeson make a forceful argument about the need for the state government to support renewables and act on climate change:
Why is it decision makers in Australia think it is important to spend millions of dollars on building new and bigger roads, while investing in renewable energy, which can lead to improved health and a safer climate, is not important?
The seriousness of the threat which climate change presents has recently been emphasised by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Their Fifth Assessment Report shows there’s is a planetary emergency. Why on earth are the politicians who have been elected to take responsibility for our safety and well-being not thinking that these risks of climate calamity described by science should be dealt with immediately and with full force? Continue reading “Why are renewable energy projects being killed off by the Napthine govt?”
Plans for a 12MW geothermal energy installation to power the industrial city of Geelong and Surf Coast region has been scrapped after the Napthine Government withdrew a $25 million grant for the project.
So, what does the move tell Victorians about the Napthine government’s energy policy?
The Napthine government is starting to look like it’s anti-renewable energy. Its decision to pull funding from a geothermal energy project comes on top of Ted Baillieu’s anti-wind farm laws which have cost the state thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions worth of investment. To date, Premier Napthine has shown no interest in dealing with his predecessors policy failure.
The scrapped funding for a geothermal power station is the second renewable energy project to be killed off in the Geelong region since the Coalition took office. Continue reading “Policy Watch: Coalition govt kill second renewable project in Geelong /Surf Coast region”
Liberal candidate for Australia’s most marginal seat of Corangamite, Sarah Henderson, has refused to be drawn into a debate about her stance on wind energy.
Last week, Yes 2 Renewables and the local group Surf Coast Air Action raised questions about Ms Henderson’s stance after she endorsed the Baillieu era planning amendments which banned new wind farms in the windiest parts of the state.
The efforts of Y2R and SCAA sparked interest in the region and was reported on by The Surf Coast Times.
A week out from election day, there’s still time for Ms Henderson to reexamine her stance and adopt a position consistent with community views.
Over three quarters of Australians support more wind farms. The Surf Coast Energy Group had plans of a community-owned wind farm project and Surf Coast Air Action will soon undertake a research report on how to transition from polluting coal power to clean renewable energy sources such as wind.
Continue reading “Pollie Watch: Corangamite candidate’s green credentials questioned”
yes2renewables.org 