Archived News for Green Sector Professionals

The Federal Minister for the Environment, Tony Burke, and the Queensland Deputy Premier, Jeff Seeney, have met for the first time tor resolve their differences over the disputed environmental approval process of the multi-billion dollar Alpha Coal mine.

A $54.3 million agreement has  been signed between Geoscience Australia, the NSW Minister for Resources and Energy, Chris Hartcher, and the Australian Coal Association to assess potential geological storage opportunities for greenhouse gases in NSW.

A recent study by the WWF has found that Australia is lagging behind in the global clean tech race, falling to 26^th spot in thethird edition of the Clean Economy, Living Planet study.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two agencies to deliver their regulatory responsibilities under the carbon pricing mechanism.

Alice Springs has been nominated as a finalist in the local government category of the United Nations World Environment Day Awards for their Cash for Containers scheme.

The Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES) is calling for submissions for its50th annual conference at the Swinburne University of Technology on 6 and 7 December later this year.  The event will showcase the latest solar research and highlight the most recent solar energy projects.

The University of Tasmania (UTAS) has been awarded two significant grants by the Federal Government to continue crucial forestry and aquaculture research.

The Australian Government will trial the participation of energy networks and major greenfield sites as part of the Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) Program to assess the potential energy savings available to these sectors.

“Under the existing EEO Program industry participants have reported annual net cost savings in 2011 of over $800 million and it is important that we spread the benefits of this program to other sectors where it can be proven there is a net benefit,” Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson said.

The trials for energy transmission and distribution networks, major greenfield sites and expansion projects will be undertaken over the next 12 months and will include thorough consultation with industry throughout the process to ensure the development of an effective assessment and reporting framework.

“While the expansion of the EEO Program offers potential energy saving benefits to these sectors, the Government recognises the need to work collaboratively with industry to optimise outcomes for program participants,” Minister Ferguson said.

“During consultations undertaken earlier this year industry raised the need for more time to fully understand and appreciate how the application of the EEO Program will operate when applied to both energy networks and greenfield sites and the Government has taken this feedback on board.

“The trials will better inform how the program should be applied and the relative costs and benefits of program participation to these sectors.”

In addition, the Government will undertake a statutory review of the first five year cycle of the EEO program. This review will assess the effectiveness of the program in building energy management capability and identifying and implementing cost effective energy efficiency opportunities.

“In 2011, EEO Program participants reported that they have or will implement energy savings of almost 90 Petajoules of energy.  This represents 1.5 per cent of Australia’s total energy use and is the equivalent energy use of 1.8 million Australian households,” Minister Ferguson said.

“While these are good results, it is important that we look at how we can further streamline the EEO program with the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting requirements to reduce the regulatory burden on industry while still delivering energy savings to business.”

The necessary EEO regulatory amendments to facilitate this trial will be tabled by the Government in due course in preparation for participation of the networks and greenfield sectors. The Government will consider further regulatory changes as required following the outcome of the trials and following industry consultation and feedback.

The Department will soon release additional details on the timing of the program expansion, including industry consultation and any expressions of interest from industry to participate in the trials.

Further information about the EEO program is available at www.ret.gov.au

The South Australian Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department for Water will form a single agency after the State Government handed down its 2012-13 Budget.

Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, has introduced the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) legislation to Parliament following agreement between the Gillard Government, the New Zealand Government and states and territories.

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has hit out at the planned introduction of a national drink container deposit scheme (CDS), labelling it as another tax that Australian families will have to bear.

The Queensland Government has announced plans to significantly cut the state’s green tape, saying that the surrounding bureaucracy has ‘suffocated small business and cost taxpayers millions of dollars.”

The Victorian Government has officially opened the state’s new $4.8 million biodiesel at Shell’s Newport Terminal.

Former South Australian Premier, Mike Rann, has been appointed as Chair of the Board of Lower Carbon Australia.

The Tasmanian Government has released a review into the state’s biosecurity strategy in a bid to further strengthen existing quarantine efforts.

The Federal Government has announced it will establish a community advisory committee to assist in protecting the Ningaloo reef.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has released changes to its Basin Plan to ministers as part of the Authority’s process of developing the finalised plan.

The World Wide fond for Nature (WWF) has hit out at the New Zealand Government, saying it is continuing 20 years of environmental neglect and broken promises.

The Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation, Senator Kate Lundy, has announced the appointment of an independent expert committee to help Innovation Australia deliver the $1 billion Clean Technology Investment programs.