Posts tagged ‘Brumby government’
The Electric Boogalo Shuffle
As anyone who follows these pages regularly would know, Victoria has a lot of Brown Coal. We dig massive holes the size of towns so can we burn it to heat water to make steam which makes our electricity. We also have plans to dig even more of it up so we can get other countries to burn it on our behalf. And if that doesn’t work we’ll bury it underground again after we’ve burnt it so we can continue to dig crater like holes in the Victorian countryside.
In fact – rather then withering on a vine Victoria’s brown coal industry looks like it might be set for a new vintage. The Age recently reported that a Transport Department submission revealed a possible $24 billion could be invested in brown coal over the next decade. (more…)
November 11, 2010 at 8:44 am morelandclimategroup 2 comments
Photos from the Replace Hazelwood Rally
These photos were taken at the Rally to Replace ALL of Hazelwood that happened on Saturday 6th November 2010.
5,000 protesters gathered at the steps of the State Library on Swanston Street and walked peacefully to Parliament House. The message, to urge all political parties in the lead up to the State election on 27th November to commit to replace Hazelwood power station, the countries worst polluting power station, in the next term of government with renewable energy.
November 10, 2010 at 12:12 pm morelandclimategroup Leave a comment
What does a white paper, a green premier and a yellow government have in common?
Taking Action one report at a time
The Brumby government recently released its Climate Change White Paper, The Action Plan, to much fanfare and praise. Media outlets lauded the plan with headlines like “Brumby lays down gauntlet on carbon” and “Premier’s bold plan on climate takes lead”. Yet those with long memories may well remember another Victorian labor climate announcement that was also the toast of the town.
Back in June 2002 the Bracks government unveiled its Victorian Greenhouse Strategy (VGS). Media releases of the time promised that the strategy would “reduce Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions by five to eight million tonnes by 2010”. It would “position Victoria to prosper in a future carbon constrained economy” and “a number of drivers are now in place that will lead to an increased take-up… in the renewable energy sector over the next decade”.
In 2002 our total emissions were 120.5 million tonnes (Mt). The most recent data from the government shows in 2008 that the State’s emissions were 119 Mt and in 2006 were at an all time high of 126 Mt. That’s a long way from the promises laid down in the VGS. (more…)
September 27, 2010 at 9:29 pm morelandclimategroup 3 comments
Brumby can’t see the world’s biggest polluter through the smokestacks!
The problem is Hazelwood but Brumby can’t see the solution
Our campaign to close the Hazelwood power station is working. How else would you explain the Brumby government, four months out from the State election, leaking to the Age that they are contemplating closing one quarter of Hazelwood? But … one quarter? That’s only half of half the job!
The announcement is big news and shows that all our efforts are really making a difference. It shows that grassroots campaigning, like door knocking and holding community stalls, is really successful. (more…)
Hazelwood power station – A brief history
Everything you wanted to know about Hazelwood, but was afraid to ask.
THE EARLY YEARS
47 years of pollution.
1949 – The State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV) begins developing the brown coal reserves at Morewell, also known as the ‘Morwell Project’.
1959 – Hazelwood Power Station is approved. It’s planned to consist of six 200 MW generating units, giving a total generating capacity of 1,200 MW.
1963 – Growing demand for electricity forces the SECV to review this capacity.
1964 – Hazelwood begins its commission.
1965 – Approval of two additional units is granted.
1971 – After twelve years Hazelwood is finally fully functional producing 1,600 megawatts of base load electricity. (more…)
Replace Hazelwood
In 2005 WWF Australia named Hazelwood the “most polluting of all power stations operating in the world’s major industrialised countries”. At the same time the Victorian Government stated its intention to reduce the State’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 8.3 megatonnes a year by 2012. That’s less than two years away and it is every increasingly apparent that the state government has no intention of taking serious action on climate change. You can not have your coal cake and eat it!
Hazelwood power station and open-cut brown coal mine (Click image for more detail)
A Victorian disgrace
If being the home to Australia’s dirtiest polluter wasn’t enough encouragement for the Brumby government to take action against the brown coal dependent industrial dinosaur of a bygone era, you would have thought that Hazelwood being responsible for over 15% of Victoria’s carbon pollution (not to mention 3% of Australia’s), would hit home that the monster needs to be replaced. (more…)
April 11, 2010 at 2:41 pm morelandclimategroup Leave a comment
Surf Coast not Coal Coast – launch of Anglesea campaign
Groups launch campaign to replace Anglesea coal mine and power station
Images available at http://www.climateactioncentre.org
Environment, climate and local community groups have joined forces in a campaign to replace Alcoa’s Anglesea power station with renewable energy.
Continue Reading June 8, 2009 at 8:13 am morelandclimategroup Leave a comment
Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change 