Posts filed under 'renewable energy'
Door-knocking success with Hazelwood campaign
40 supporters of Climate Action Moreland have door-knocked and leafleted more than 2500 Brunswick homes to launch a new strategy to engage the community on climate issues in this key election year.
The door-knocking, on 17 April and 2 May, will continue at least once a month, with a focus on the campaign to replace Hazelwood power station, the dirtiest in the developed world. It was supposed to close in 2005, but the government extended its licence for another 25 years. Hazelwood is a national embarrassment, 80% foreign owned and responsible for 3% of Australia’s and almost 15% of Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate Action Moreland wants it shut down by 2012 and replaced with renewable energy. We want the government to make shutting down Hazelwood an election promise, but they’ll only do that if we can show there is real community concern on the issue. So we’re taking the issue to the streets of Brunswick… door by door! (more…)
Add comment May 11, 2010
100% renewables campaign launch
On Sunday, 2 May, Climate Action Moreland joined with Beyond Zero Emissions in launching the 100% renewables campaign in Brunswick – calling for a switch from polluting coal power stations to 100% clean green renewable energy like wind and solar.
CAM was joined by over 60 climate action groups around the country also launching the 100% renewables campaign in their local area.
‘We want all our local candidates, Labor, Liberal and Green, to commit to supporting renewable energy. Right now we have a choice – we can continue our dependence on fossil fuels or we can make the switch to 100% renewable energy Mechanisms like a national feed in tarif are proven to be effective and will drive investment in large scale technology.’ said launch organiser Ellen Roberts.
We have the community support for the change, what we lack is the political will from the major parties. The demise of Rudd’s emissions trading scheme means we need better, more effective initiatives.’
For more information about the campaign check out http://climateactionmoreland.org/our-campaigns/
Add comment May 10, 2010
Replace Hazelwood With Renewable Energy Video
Thanks to Andrew at The Vagabond magazine for putting together this fantastic video. It shows volunteers from Climate Action Moreland, 100% Renewable Energy and the Climate Action Centre door knocking in Brunswick to demand that Hazelwood, the most polluting coal-fired power station in the developed world, be replaced with renewable energy.
2 comments May 6, 2010
RET legislation: the fossils cling on for dear life
The renewable energy target bill has now been passed in Parliament, legislating that 20 percent of electricity will come from renewable sources by 2020. The scheme works by compelling electricity retailers to buy electricity from renewable sources.
Investment in electricity from tidal and wave technologies will get a boost, but the geothermal industry is voicing disappointment that no portion of the target was set aside for it. Considering the huge potential of geothermal energy in Australia, this is a kick in the teeth for large scale renewable energy production.
Industry has again put out its hand, demanding yet more government money. Under new concessions demanded by the Coalition, the number of industries to be compensated for higher electricity prices was increased from three to about 40. Once again the government kneels down before the already massively subsidised fossil fuel industry.
Incredibly, electricity from coal seam methane gas – a coal mining waste product – has been classified a renewable energy source and will earn rewards under the scheme. So coal miners are given renewable credits for burning fossil fuels.
While the government will now be patting itself on the back and promoting its green credentials to anyone willing to listen, there is a long, long way to go before Australia is free from the stranglehold of the fossil fuel industry. And a renewable energy target wouldn’t even be necessary if the market was set up to accurately reflect the true cost of carbon emissions. But that day seems a long way off.
Add comment August 24, 2009
What the REC is this?
Don’t reck the REC
The government has proposed giving five times the normal number of renewable energy certificates (REC) to people installing solar panels on their roof until 2015. This means four out of the five certificates will represent energy that isn’t actually produced!
Extra certificates can act as a financial incentive to install solar panels because installers sell them on to retailers. Subsequently, on paper Australia will be achieving its annual targets for renewables, but in reality achieving much, much less.
Further to this, with so much of the annual targets in the first five years taken up by fake solar hot water RECs, there won’t be enough space within the targets to get large scale projects off the ground – including wind projects that are ready to go now.
This may delay large scale projects until 2015, meaning not just delayed renewables, but delayed investment in jobs too. If people thought that their investment in solar panels could reduce large scale investment in renewable energy, this may also be a significant disincentive to install solar panels.
Continue Reading Add comment August 5, 2009
