The federal Labor opposition will go to the next election proposing a more ambitious renewable energy target that would enable the large-scale solar industry to gain a share of the subsidised industry. Opposition environment spokesman Mark Butler confirmed the intention on Friday after Labor and the government agreed to end more than a year of uncertainty and support a revised renewable energy target …
A deal to save Australia’s wind and solar industry could be scuppered by last minute demands by the Abbott government, despite it making headway with the opposition on an agreement to reduce the renewable energy target. The government and Labor emerged from talks in Melbourne on Friday to say they had the basis for an …
Along with other proposed changes to the RET, the issue of RECs for native forest waste incinerators is expected to return to parliament, with crucial cross bench senators Ricky Muir and Jackie Lambie vocal in support. Changed conditions in forest markets could mean this has a bigger impact on Australian renewables that it has in …
Our governments should take note: some US Senators are wanting a moratorium on use of bioenergy as renewable energy under their Clean Power Plan. They believe that by claiming biomass power plants that burn forest ‘waste’ emit zero emissions, it could undermine the ability of the Plan to reduce emissions from the power sector. Massachusetts has …
A report from the Department of Environment has revealed VicForests’ contractors needlessly destroyed rainforest canopy in East Gippsland The department visited the area last month to investigate claims VicForests had illegally logged rainforest on the Erindurra Plateau. The report, released by the Government on Friday, reveals the investigators were unable to conduct a proper physical …
Production has finally begun at Australian Paper’s $90m Maryvale recycled paper mill, aiming to help drag the embattled company into profit by the end of the year. Maryvale’s opening comes two months after the company decided to shut down the Shoalhaven specialty paper mill with the loss of 75 jobs, and launched a wide-ranging turnaround …
Long-term exposure to air pollution is linked with brain shrinkage. Not surprisingly, a US study shows that with only a small increase in fine particulate matter pollution (known as PM2.5) a clear association was evident of brain damage linked to impaired cognitive function. Anyone who had to endure the Morwell mine fire smoke, or the …
In 2011, a downed power line sparked the massive Las Conchas wildfire that roared through homes and scorched 156,000 acres of forest in the Jemez Mountains. And that was just the beginning of the damage. In the weeks that followed, rains washed tons of ash and sediment off the blistered slopes into the Rio Grande, …
Environmental scientist and author Haydn Washington just published a book called Demystifying Sustainability. Much has been said about sustainability, but what does it all mean? Haydn Washington aims to demystify sustainability, so that the lay person can understand what the issues are. Listen on the ABC website Transcript David Fisher: Some words become fashionable. They …
