Just days after the Victorian Liberal party’s Shadow Minister Against Renewables David Southwick made a misguided pledge to axe the VRET, Victorian communities are celebrating the real leaders in renewable energy at Hepburn Wind’s community wind farm. The Daylesford event will be hosted at … Continue reading Hepburn Wind Celebrates Pioneering Communities this Sunday Feb 26th
Friends of the Earth and community renewables advocate Embark have welcomed the surprise announcement of a Victorian Parliament inquiry into community-owned renewable energy. “The Victorian Parliament’s inquiry into community energy is very welcome and will allow all political parties to … Continue reading Advocates welcome Vic Parliament inquiry into community-owned renewable energy
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
Friends of the Earth have launched a Macedon Energy Futures Survey on the views voters in the hotly-contested seat of Macedon hold on the government’s anti-wind farm laws just weeks from the November 29 state election. The report was launched at … Continue reading Macedon community survey finds strong support for renewables, dumping anti-wind farm laws
Renewable energy is a mainstream election issue in the hotly-contested seat of Macedon. The Coaltion’s anti-wind farm laws have hit the Macedon Ranges hard. They have cost the region jobs, investment and killed off a community wind farm proposal. The seat of Macedon … Continue reading Voices of Macedon: Dispelling wind turbine myths
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”
Published by Etwas Luft. View original article. By Ketan Joshi, Research and Communications Officer at Infigen Energy. These views are his own.
Picture this: A man sits nervously in the witness stand, his hands bound by cuffs, his every move watched closely by a jury. A lawyer slowly steps up to him, and says:
“Sir, the evidence is irrefutable. You murdered Mr Wales, in cold blood”.
The accused smiles at the corner of his mouth.
“Hear this, my good man: you are wrong. It is Mr Wales who murdered me, and I shall avenge his crimes, mark my words!”
I call it the Stupefaction Gambit. If you stand accused of some wrongdoing, steel yourself, swallow your self-awareness, point at your accuser and accuse them of that same folly. In the ensuing chaos, the irrationality of your claim sneaks quietly past the other parties.
Recently, Neil Barrett, a film-maker from Victoria with an interest in renewable energy and a small share in the Hepburn community wind farm (also in Victoria) released a set of videos (condensed version below) interviewing residents near the Waubra Wind Farm. Continue reading “Waubra Wednesday #5 – The Stupefaction Gambit: “Community Acceptance Will Fuel Community Division””
Yes 2 Renewables are a proud member of the Fund Community Energy campaign. The collaboration between the Community Power Agency, 40 community-owned renewable energy (CORE) groups from around Australia, and Yes 2 Renewables, has put the issue on the election agenda for the first time.
While the Greens have taken policy leadership by calling for a 100m community energy fund, yet it remains to be seen whether the Labor party and Coalition will support the burgeoning CORE sector.
Manny Pasqualini of Community Power Report was at the Melbourne policy launch. He writes: Continue reading “Community power given a boost by Australian Greens $100 million community renewable energy policy”
Dozens of community groups from around Australia have joined national environment organisations to publish an open letter calling on Labor and the Coalition to commit to a $50 million fund for community energy projects.
The open letter, addressed to the minister for climate change, Mark Butler (ALP) and shadow minister for climate change, Greg Hunt (Coalition), calls on both major parties to lock in their support the emerging community energy sector.
The campaign believes politicians risk killing off the infant community renewable energy sector if they fail to establish a multi-million dollar fund.
“Like any new sector, community-owned renewables are growing quickly and will need short-term support to succeed,” said Nicky Ison, spokesperson for the Fund Community Energy campaign.
“Over 40 communities across Australia are developing community-owned wind and solar projects, but only two are up and running. If the other 38 groups don’t receive start-up assistance soon, they risk dying on the vine,” added Miss Ison. Continue reading “Election ’13: Community groups call on Labor, Coalition to back $50m community energy fund”
Originally published at Consultant Dan. Read the original article.
As predicted, renewable energy is gaining the price edge over old energy. In Australia and the US, wind energy is beating the business model of gas, coal and nukes.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance recently reported that unsubsidised wind energy is now cheaper than electricity from new-build coal- and gas-fired power stations in Australia.
The study found that even without a carbon price, wind energy is 14% cheaper than new coal and 18% cheaper than new gas. A new wind farm can supply electricity at a cost of $80 per megawatt hour, compared with $143 a megawatt hour from a new coal-fired power plant or $116 from a new natural gas station when the cost of carbon emissions is included. Continue reading “Wind beats fossil fuels, on price alone”
yes2renewables.org 