Archived News for Green Sector Professionals - July, 2011
The Government is seeking comment from the public, stakeholders and legal experts on the details of its Clean Energy Legislative Package.
Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Minister Greg Combet and Treasurer Wayne Swan released drafts of the key bills in the package on 28 July 2011. The consultation runs until 22 August 2011.
The package will give businesses and investors certainty about the carbon price, allowing them to plan new investments in renewable and clean energy technologies.
Biggest solar power station opens
Australia’s largest solar power station has begun to supply power to Alice Springs and the surrounding communities.
New funding for development of plastic solar cells
The Australian Federal and Victorian State Governments have announced a joint $3.5 million funding initiative aimed at further developing plastic solar cells currently being produced in Victoria.
ACF calls for more Federal Government support
The Australian Conservation Foundation’s executive director Don Henry has called for the Federal Government to take a more direct interest in conservation and management in the Cape York Peninsula.
Ferguson promises green compensation for states
Federal Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson has promised that states stand to benefit directly from the carbon policies.
SA releases findings on environmental flow requirements
The South Australian Government has released a series of internationally peer-revied scientific reports that determine the environmental flow requirements for the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth areas.
Arkaroola protection halts exploration
The South Australian Government’s decision to halt all mining in the Arkaroola region in the State’s far-north stands to stall uranium exploration in the area.
CSIRO leads review into basin plan science
The CSIRO is leading a review into the science underpinning the new Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Canberra charge network opens with the backing of companies
Support for electric car use in the ACT has grown significantly after 11 large companies pledged to switch a portion of their fleet cars to electric vehicles.
Illawarra/NSW South Coast Climate Report released
The Climate Commission says failure to act against climate change in the next 10 years could lead to major disasters on the New South Wales far south coast.
Victoria injects $3 million into recycling
The Victorian State Government has announced a series of grants worth a combined $3 million in an attempt to reduce waste that would otherwise contribute to landfill.
Czech leader slams carbon pricing
Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus has savaged Australian carbon pricing policies, likening them to communism and saying they would be liable to “substantially challenge” freedom and prosperity.
Low Carbon Australia and Wagga Wagga City Council announce energy efficiency partnership
Low Carbon Australia and Wagga Wagga City Council, NSW are to cooperate on energy efficiency in the first agreement of its kind for regional Australia in the second major agreement for the new agency.
Research challenges conventional approaches to wind farm design
California Institute of Technology researchers have revisited some of the fundamental assumptions that have guided the wind industry for the past 30 years, and now believe that a new approach to wind farm design -- one that places wind turbines close together instead of far apart -- may provide significant efficiency gains.
Tasmanian Government releases emissions action plan
The Tasmanian Government has released Tasmania’s Action Plan to Reduce Emissions, which sets out the Government’s immediate priority plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions following the Tasmanian Wedges Report, and advice from the Tasmanian Climate Action Council.
COAG Review of the National Water Commission to get underway
The National Water Commission will be reviewed to assess the effectiveness and continuing appropriateness of its roles in promoting water reform objectives and outcomes.
Carbon tax's affect on mining industry outlined
Research conducted by Wood Mackenzie shows that coal producers could have up $17 billion wiped off their asset value in the event of the introduction of the Federal Government’s planned carbon tax.
$66.5 million for solar research
The Federal Government has announced a $66.5 million grant under the Education Investment Fund to fund ‘world-leading’ research that will assist in the construction of one of the largest solar power plants in the world.
RMIT and Oxfam to produce climate change toolkit
RMIT University has announced a partnership with Oxfam Australia to produce a toolkit that will assist communities in the Asia-Pacific region adapt and respond to climate change.
Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources launched
The Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) has been officially opened at the University of Newcastle.