Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has strayed beyond his area of expertise by lending weight to unsubstantiated claims wind energy is linked to adverse health impacts. This morning, Prime Minister told radio host Alan Jones he finds wind farms “visually disturbing” and believes … Continue reading PM Abbott’s wind energy rhetoric out of step with medical experts
As Yes 2 Renewables coordinator, nothing fires me up more than job losses. Too many good people have been retrenched due to the Abbott government’s prolonged attack on the national Renewable Energy Target. People from welders and metal workers, to engineers and planning … Continue reading RET Watch: Abbott’s attack on renewables is costing jobs
A new Friends of the Earth analysis finds wind energy has created jobs and delivered investment for south west Victorian communities, while making a strong contribution to cutting Australia’s carbon emissions. Drawing on modeling from Sinclair Knight Merz (now Jacobs),* … Continue reading Wind energy in southwest Victoria: A win for jobs, regional economies, and climate change
Victoria’s renewable energy sector is on the ropes. Despite the welcome commitment of Victorian Labor to repeal the previous state government’s anti-wind farm laws, the Abbott government is retarding the sector with its persistent efforts to weaken the national Renewable Energy Target. … Continue reading Time for Victorian govt leadership on renewables
Renewable energy is a mainstream election issue in the hotly-contested seat of Macedon. Anti-wind farm laws introduced by the Coaltion government in 2011 have hit the Macedon Ranges hard. A large-scale blanket ban on wind farms now cuts across the electorate. The anti-wind farm … Continue reading Voices of Macedon: Look close to home, Premier
News that 100 Victorian wind workers have been sacked due the Coalition’s attack on renewable energy underscores the need for a state Renewable Energy Target. The job losses at Portland’s Keppel Prince Engineering occur in Premier Denis Napthine’s own electorate. … Continue reading Victorian Renewable Energy Target now needed to save wind energy jobs
Friends of the Earth today hand delivered a submission to the Victorian Red Tape Commissioner calling for the Napthine government’s anti-wind farm laws to be investigated. The Coalition introduced the world’s worst anti-wind farm laws in 2011. The laws ban … Continue reading Red Tape Commissioner urged to investigate Napthine govt anti-wind laws
Renewable energy is omitted from the Napthine government’s ’21st Century’ jobs plan released today. The Napthine government’s Victorian Jobs in the 21st Century policy has been released a day after the Labor party opposition’s jobs plan identified renewable energy as a growth sector. Renewable … Continue reading Renewable energy jobs missing from Napthine govt ‘jobs plan’
The Napthine government is “missing in action” as the Victorian Labor opposition identifies renewable energy as a key growth sector for the state. Labor’s Back to Work policy released today commits the party to “Establish a $200 million Future Industries Fund to drive the six high-growth … Continue reading Napthine govt MIA as Andrews opposition identify renewable energy as key growth sector
A thousand people marched for climate change action in Geelong on Sunday October 21. The local demonstration was part of a global mobilisation calling on political leaders to take action to address global warming.
The Geelong march coincided with a global gathering of heads of state at the United Nations in New York City to discuss responses to climate change. An estimated 500 marched in Kyneton, central Victoria; 30,000 people in Melbourne; and a massive 300,000 taking to the streets in Manhattan.
People’s Climate March in Geelong was encouraged to take their concern for climate change to the polls and to vote for renewable energy in the imminent Victorian election.
“The Victorian government has banned wind farms in the windiest parts of the state and cut solar incentives,” said Ben Courtice, spokesperson for Yes 2 Renewables. “Only a vote for renewable energy will encourage politicians to seize the economic opportunity of renewable energy.”
Ben Courtice told the People’s Climate March that the wind industry would bring long term employment to the region, unlike the proposed shale-gas fracking around the town. Wind farming would also not damage the water supply, farmland, or residents’ health.
Local firms IXL Engineering and Austeng are already involved in cleantech manufacturing. Yes 2 Renewables say this is a strong foundation to build on.
“Renewable energy is a huge opportunity for Geelong,” said Ben Courtice. “There’s no reason why the region couldn’t be a hub for cleantech jobs.” Continue reading “Geelong Climate March urged to vote for renewables at Vic election”
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