Posted under Express 121

Boco Rock To Produce Enough Wind Power for 120,000 Homes

Wind Prospect’s Boco Rock Wind Farm in New South Wales has been given the go ahead for up to 122 wind turbines spread over 17 different properties and the potential to produce over 840,000 megawatt hours of electricity per annum. Meanwhile The Climate Group reports that wind power generation across the eastern states grew by 40% last year as several large farms began operating.

Wind Prospect announcement (10 August 2010):

Wind Prospect CWP is pleased to announce that the Boco Rock Wind Farm has been granted Development Approval by the NSW Government. The project, located 6 km south west of Nimmitabel and approximately 40 km south of Cooma on the Monaro plains, will comprise up to 122 wind turbines spread over 17 different properties.

The wind farm has the potential to produce over 840,000 megawatt hours of electricity per annum; enough energy to supply over 120,000 average Australian homes.

Boco Rock Wind Farm will cost in the order of $700 million to build and up to 40% of that total will be injected into the Australian economy through construction and supply contracts. In addition it is estimated that over 240 jobs could be created through pre-construction and construction works, with a further 15 to 20 permanent positions required for ongoing operation and maintenance activities once the wind farm has been built.

“We aim to begin construction mid-2011 with the first clean, green electricity flowing from the site by mid- 2012. Full commissioning is expected to occur in 2013” said Ed Mounsey, Wind Prospect CWP’s Development Director.

The project will also generate additional benefits for the local area around the wind farm. A community fund will be created to provide up to $305,000 per annum to be spent on projects chosen by local people. Conservation areas will also be established to be managed by local landowners. “These conservation areas are important as, in addition to retaining the natural biodiversity of the area, they allow participating landowners to follow less intensive and more sustainable farming practices particularly during times of drought”, Mr Mounsey concluded.

However, Mr Mounsey also adds, “a project of this size, whilst significant, will only account for 2% of the Federal Government’s expanded renewable energy target. With wind energy the lowest cost renewable energy provider it is necessary for state and federal governments and regulators to continue to create the right policy, regulatory and commercial environment to encourage both the development and financing of such projects”.

Wind Prospect CWP Pty Ltd is an independent wind farm development company situated in Newcastle, New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

The company is a partnership between the Wind Prospect Group and Continental Wind Partners and together have a portfolio of over 2,000 MW’s in NSW alone at various stages of development.

Source: www.windprospect.com.au

Adam Morton in Sydney Morning Herald (9 August 2010):

 

Wind power generation across the eastern states grew by 40 per cent last year as several large farms began operating.

A Climate Group report on electricity generation and its emissions, covering all states except Western Australia, found 83 per cent of power used in 2009 came from greenhouse-intensive coal. Nine per cent was from renewable sources – mainly hydro power – and 8 per cent from gas.

The biggest growth from renewable sources was from wind turbines, which fed 4.1 million megawatt hours into the national electricity grid. The increase was boosted by the opening of the largest wind farm at Waubra, north-west of Ballarat.

Wind supplies about 2 per cent of total power across the eastern seaboard. This is expected to grow dramatically over the next decade as wind farms are built to meet the bulk of the national 20 per cent renewable energy target.

The growth in renewable power last year meant emissions were about 2 million tonnes lower than if the electricity had come from coal.

Source: www.smh.com.au

Posted under Express 121

Teaching Climate Change To Boost Science Student Uptake

Tackling modern problems such as climate change is a key element of a new program to fight the chronic problem of older secondary students shunning the subject of science. Targeting year 9 and 10 students, trials of the locally developed science program known as STELR – Science and Technology Education Leveraging Relevance – have proved so successful that it has secured Federal Government funding and will be rolled out to 180 schools next year.

Saving planet may lure students back to science

By Bridie Smith in The Age (8 August 2010):

TACKLING modern problems such as climate change is a key element of a new program to fight the chronic problem of older secondary students shunning the subject of science.

Targeting year 9 and 10 students, trials of the locally developed science program known as STELR – Science and Technology Education Leveraging Relevance – have proved so successful that it has secured Federal Government funding and will be rolled out to 180 schools next year.

The brainchild of Alan Finkel, Monash University chancellor and director of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering [and co-founder of COSMOS], the six-week program puts science in a contemporary context, encouraging students to grapple with issues such as climate change and renewable energy.

It’s the first time the academy has designed a program to work within the school curriculum and Dr Finkel, who will discuss the program on Wednesday at the National Press Club, said this was a significant step.

”The extra curriculum programs we’ve been involved with tend to preach to the converted … and while if it wasn’t for those programs I think the participation rate would be lower, they have not been adequate to stop the decline of the 1980s and 1990s,” he said.

Research has shown students are concerned about the health of their planet. A survey by the Australian Childhood Foundation found 52 per cent of children were worried about not having enough water in the future and 44 per cent were worried about the effects of climate change.

One participant in the STELR trials was Nita Cheung, 16, who made miniaturised wind turbines, solar panels and converted vegetable oils and sugars to biological fuels. ”It’s easier than reading notes on a board and you feel like you learn more by making things,” the year 10 Northcote High School student said.

Her classmate Rowan Watson, 16, said the program had ”made science interesting”.

”I’ve learnt things I wouldn’t have expected,” he said.

According to the Australian Council for Educational Research, about 55 per cent of year 12 students studied biology in 1976, while 29 per cent studied chemistry and 28 per cent physics. That has fallen to just a quarter of year 12 students who study biology, 18 per cent chemistry and 15 per cent physics.

Dr Finkel said it was vital this trend was reversed. ”We’re now at a low base and don’t have enough students going through the pipeline to meet the job demands of the future,” he said

Source: www.cosmosmagazine.com

Posted under Express 121

Here’s a Lucky Last minute alert for Sydneysiders and visitors to make sure of attendance the Beyond Zero Emissions seminar in the Sydney Town Hall. And a chance to hear from Malcolm Turnbull and Bob Carr on the merits of this bold and expansive plan to turn Australia into a renewable energy powerhouse.

We’ll be there, fresh from the Climate Change and Business Conference, which has seen politicians strutting their stuff and real business leaders telling it as it needs to be. More reports next week.

While this weekend, Brisbane is the place to be. On Saturday there’s the Make Poverty History event at Bulimba when yours truly will have his say. There’s even a chance Kevin Rudd will make an appearance.

On Sunday, Walk Against Warming in Brisbane city will have a decided election campaign feeling. People and organisations will be out in force to remind politicians of the importance of real climate change policy to vote on instead of more deferral. Read More

Beyond Zero Emissions                    

If you care about clean energy, make sure you read this amazing report or participate in forthcoming launches which are happening in many of the capital cities around Australia.

The Sydney launch is happening on 18 August and is a star-studded affair with speakers like:

• Hon. Bob Carr – Former NSW Premier
• Hon. Malcolm Turnbull – Federal MP for Wentworth
• Senator Scott Ludlam – Federal Senator WA
• Matthew Wright – Executive Director Beyond Zero Emissions
• Allan Jones MBE – Chief Development Officer, Energy & Climate Change, City of Sydney
• MC – Quentin Dempster – journalist and broadcaster

 

Stay tuned for a date/venue for Brisbane’s launch.

The plan is the culmination of over 12 months and thousands of hours of pro bono work by engineers, scientists and postgraduate students.  The plan is a collaboration between the climate solutions think tank Beyond Zero Emissions, and the University of Melbourne Energy Institute.  This plan is unique in Australia.  It has been put together in a collaborative way involving over 50 technical experts.

It is a detailed and costed blueprint for transitioning our stationary energy sector to 100% renewable energy in ten years. The technologies utilised in this plan are commercially available now.

Check out the comments from international experts applauding the report at the website:

http://www.beyondzeroemissions.org/

or

http://www.energy.unimelb.edu.au/uploads/ZCA2020_Stationary_Energy_Report_v1.pdf

Don’t have time to read the report?

Listen to a radio interview with Phillip Adams at: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/stories/2010/2960195.htm

Phillip interviews Matthew Wright from Beyond Zero Emissions and co-author of Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan, Michael Shellenberger, the President and Co founder of the Breakthrough Institute, California and Don Henry, Executive Director, Australian Conservation Foundation.

Alternatively, hear Matthew’s speech at the Tasmanian launch at: http://vimeo.com/13173432

Make Poverty History

 Voters in the seat of Griffith will have the chance to learn and engage with the issue of the impact of climate change on poor and developing communities this Saturday 14th August at 3pm at Lourdes Hill College: Duhig Hall 86 Hawthorne Rd. Bulimba. Climate Change is an issue that is important to millions of Australians, but one in which the 2 major parties have been fairly quiet on so far this election.

Forum organiser Gillian Marshall (World Vision) states: “Climate change will affect everyone, but it will affect poor people in developing countries first and most dramatically. Yet it’s rich countries like Australia that produced the vast majority of carbon emission that have caused climate change.”

This forum is part of a national series of electorate forums around the country normally connecting local constituents, particularly in marginal seats, with the three major parties to hear about their policies relating to global poverty. Kevin Rudd MP, the member for Griffith has been invited to the forum this weekend and has expressed his support for Make Poverty History in the past. Organisers still await a response from his office.

Speakers will include Ken Hickson (ABC Carbon and Governor of WWF Australia) Dr Ken Anthony (Global Change Institute) and the event will be moderated by Phil Smith from 612 local ABC radio. The program and speakers will remain but the program will be a movable feast if Rudd MP chooses to attend. If this is the case, the panel will also include Griffith Greens candidate: Emma Kate Rose and Executive Director of Oxfam and Co-Chair of MPH: Andrew Hewett.

Ken Hickson, author “The ABC of Carbon” and speaker at the event; Is convinced that climate change will make matters so much worse for millions of people already living close to the edge in developing countries. “They are the most vulnerable, as extreme weather conditions, temperature increases and rising sea levels will seriously affect food production and life itself.”

The Make Poverty History event is to get voters to consider policy around this issue, particularly parties greenhouse emission targets, which should be 40% from 1990 levels by 2020 and Australia’s fair share of funding for adaptation and mitigation against the worst affects of climate change which should be additional to aid level commitments.

Griffith MPH/MDG Forum

When: Saturday 14th August: Gather from 2.30pm till 4pm (Afternoon tea from 2.30pm).

Where: Lourdes Hill College: 86 Hawthorne Rd. Bulimba, Duhig Hall

Who: Moderator: Phil Smith (612 ABC Radio), Ken Hickson (Director ABC Carbon), Dr. Ken

Anthony (Global Change Institute) local international speaker, MPH, The Lyrical (band).

Kevin Rudd MP (ALP), Emma Kate Rose (Greens) and Rebecca Docherty (LNP) have been

invited.                                          

RSVP: m.hughes@theoaktree.org or P: 0448 280 117

Walk against warming

All political party leaders and one significant former leader have been invited to march in unity for a healthy climate. Larissa Waters from the Greens has already accepted, we hope the others who have campaigned all over Brisbane will join the people and Unite For A Healthy Climate!

We hope our leaders seeking election re-consider and all offer real climate change policy to vote on instead of more deferral, we don’t want the Office of Climate Change to effectively be the Office Of No Change!

Linda Selvey (CEO Greenpeace), Wanita Limpus (Kiribati Australia), Professor Ian Lowe, Graham Readfearn, John Schluter and Toby Hutcheon will also be there, along with Q-Song finalist The Medics performing in a free concert with legendary Coloured Stone frontman Bunna Lawrie and local favourite Gowiiee Pa’ul. There will be great festival food with Flowers of the World, Conscious Kitchen and Orgazmic Langos along with all the great conservation and solar energy exhibits.

You could be the tipping point for a cooler Australia to Unite For a Healthy Climate. Be there this Sunday from 11am!

                        Walk Against Warming 2010

Sponsors: Australian Ethical Investment, B105, Channel 7, Greenfest, Greenpeace, Oxfam, The Jack Thompson Foundation, The Printing Office, The Wilderness Society, Triple M, Queensland Conservation Council, Quest Community Newspapers

Exhibitors: Australian Ethical Investment, Australian Marine Conservation, Australian Certified Organic, Biological Farmers of Australia, Climate Change Networks Queensland, Conscious Kitchen, Flowers of the World, Orgazmic Langos, Oxfam, Sea Shepherd, Solar Guys, Solahart, The Greens, The Wilderness Society. To secure one of the last two available exhibitor sites apply here, exhibitors stalls open from 10:00

Morning MC: John Schluter Channel 7

Afternoon MC: Graham Readfearn Read Graham’s new site after The Green Blog here

10:00 Exhibitor Stalls Open

11:00 Welcome to Country: Aunty Carol Currie (Council of Elders)

11:15 Queensland Conservation Council – Toby Hutcheon

11:30 Unite for a Healthy Climate – Jack Thompson

11:35 Walk Against Warming 2010: Enjoy walking in unity for a cooler Australia through the city streets. Route is King George Square, Adelaide St, Edward St, Mary St, George St, Adelaide St, King George Square.

12:30 Ian Lowe – President ACF

13:00 Linda Selvey – CEO Greenpeace

13:15 Wanita Limpus – Kiribati Australia

13:30 Music: Bunna Lawrie (Coloured Stone)

14:30 Music: The Medics (Q Song Finalists and Deadly Award Winners)

15:30 End

You can be the tipping point, on the last Sunday before the election, for a cooler Australian economy transformed by clean energy, transportation and healthier outcomes for all. Let’s call on our leaders to provide real climate change policy to vote on instead of more deferral.