Opinion piece by David Clarke. For more information see ramblingsdc.net There are some selfish reasons to leave the electricity grid, and a very good altruistic reason to stay connected. Recently there has been much speculation about the option of going off-grid; … Continue reading Opinion: Off-grid, or not?
This article originally appeared in The Conversation. It can be found here. BP’s annual Energy Outlook report, released in February, details the results from modelling of what it sees as the “most likely” energy scenario out to 2035. In this … Continue reading BP’s extreme climate forecast puts energy giant in a bind
This Opinion piece is by David Clarke. For further information: http://ramblingsdc.net/. On Sunday 1st March, Clean-up Australia Day, we saw our Prime Minister Tony Abbott picking up rubbish. I wonder how much he picked up? Let’s be generous and suppose that … Continue reading Opinion: Abbott’s Clean Up Australia Day Efforts
The Macedon Ranges Sustainable Living Festival is set to return in February 2015. But this time there’s something different. Is it possible that the Macedon Ranges Sustainable Living Festival has been affected by climate change? With 2014 likely to be, … Continue reading Macedon community announces sustainability festival!
The Japan Meteorological Agency has been the first of four major groups to release data relating to global average temperatures. The data is clear reminder to Australia that it’s current climate policy may be insufficient to curb these trends. This … Continue reading One for the record books: 2014 officially hottest year
India’s Energy Minister has announced a paradigm shift needs to take place in India’s energy sector. Protecting the environment, supplying off- grid residents and promoting energy security have been the motivations behind the move. The article was originally published in … Continue reading India’s plan to stop importing coal deals another blow to Australia
In Melbourne today, Friends of the Earth met with the Warburton review of the Renewable Energy Target. We attended the meeting in good faith to raise concerns regarding the review process.
Based on the responses, we can only conclude that the Warburton review is not credible. It is deeply compromised.
Friends of the Earth have a track record of engaging constructively with governments in the policy process, even when the odds are stacked against good outcomes for our environment. In this case, it appears the review is leading to a predetermined outcome to weaken the Renewable Energy Target.
The review is led by climate change sceptic Dick Warburton and panel members with close connections to the fossil fuel sector. There is no renewable energy sector representation. The review is only modeling a scenario that assumes no carbon pricing or equivalent mechanism will be in effect between now and 2030.
As a matter of principle, we could not take part in a box ticking exercise when peoples’ jobs and action on climate change are on the line.
Friends of the Earth, who are undertaking an 11-stop fact-finding RET Review Road Trip to get a real understanding of how energy policy affects communities, say today’s meeting confirms public skepticism about the process.
We’ve heard directly from community members that the Warburton review of the Renewable Energy Target lacks credibility.
The Warburton review has been referred to as ‘ideologically driven’ and a ‘witch hunt.’ It is fair and accurate to say, that for many in the community, the review lacks public confidence.
The Abbott government has no other choice but to disregard the findings of the Warburton Review and instruct the Climate Change Authority to commence their own investigation, as required by legislation.
Below is a statement, questions, and concluding remark that was presented to the Warburton Review panel in Melbourne this morning. Continue reading “The Warburton RET Review: Why we walked…”
Published by Triple Pundit. View original article.
Higher performance turbines, lower manufacturing costs and lower prices for consumers drove new U.S. wind energy construction to record heights in early 2014 — despite the U.S. Congress still debating whether or not to renew the federal renewable energy production tax credit (PTC), which expired Dec. 31. In many parts of the U.S., wind energy is now the cheapest form of electricity generation – cheaper than natural gas and even coal, NextEra chief financial office Moray P. Dewhurst recently stated on an earnings call. Continue reading “Wind Power Is Reducing Electricity Rates; Pays Back Tax Credit 17 Times Over”
Published by Energy & Policy Institute. View original article.
Wind farms reduce green house gas emissions in the overall electrical grid on close to a 1:1 basis. Typical grids produce 800 g of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per KWh generated by their mixes of fossil, nuclear and renewable generation, and wind energy displaces virtually all of that. It’s difficult to imagine the mindset in which one would assert that black is white and that wind energy actually increases greenhouse gas emissions or does not reduce them. Yet many anti-wind commentary continues to make this claim based on an overlapping and baseless set of myths. Continue reading “Wind Energy is a Key Wedge in the Fight Against Global Warming”
yes2renewables.org 