Massive Pilbara wind and solar export hub gets environmental green light

Plans for a massive renewable energy generation and export hub based in the Pilbara region of Western Australia have firmed up this week, after being recommended for approval by the state’s Environmental Protection Authority.

Plans for Pilbara massive renewable energy generation and export hub.

Environmental approval for the 9GW Asian Renewable Energy Hub was recommended on Monday, subject to conditions including consultation on management plans with traditional landowners and managing and monitoring impacts on migratory birds.

The project is one of a handful of truly massive proposed renewable energy investments, along with the 10GW solar plant and huge battery storage project initially backed by billionaires Mike Cannon-Brookes and Andrew Forrest in the Northern Territory. 

There is another 5GW renewable energy project proposed for W.A., and numerous other plans also emerging as developers look to the possibility of renewable hydrogen, either to support the export of green fuels, or even “green metals” – value-added manufacturing underpinned by cheap, green power.

Read the RenewEconomy story by Sophie Vorrath - “Massive Pilbara wind and solar export hub gets environmental green light.”

Power chief pushes home battery stimulus to aid virus recovery

The head of Australia's largest power provider, AGL, has recommended making installations of household batteries and smart meters a key plank of the federal government's post-lockdown stimulus response.

AGL's Brett Redman says batteries and smart meters
should be considered for coronavirus stimulus funding.

AGL chief executive Brett Redman said the company has raised the proposed subsidy package in talks with the Morrison government about areas that could be considered for stimulus funds to "get the economy moving" in the immediate post-lockdown phase.

"The government is doing the right thing by pushing enormous amounts of stimulus through to make sure people can stay engaged with their workforces," Mr Redman said.

"At the right time, government and business will need to turn their attention to defining and then implementing our plans for generating jobs across all sectors and getting the economy back onto a growth path."

Read the story from The Age by Nick Toscano - “Power chief pushes home battery stimulus to aid virus recovery.”

Murray-Darling Basin royal commission report finds gross maladministration

The head of the royal commission into the Murray-Darling Basin plan has recommended a complete overhaul of the plan, including reallocating more water from irrigation to the environment.

 South Australia has released the royal commission’s report
into the Murray Darling Basin, pictured here at Louth in NSW.

The South Australian Murray-Darling Basin royal commission found the original plan ignored potentially “catastrophic” risks of climate change.

Bret Walker SC’s report also found commonwealth officials committed gross maladministration, negligence and unlawful actions in drawing up the multibillion-dollar deal to save Australia’s largest river system.

Read the story from The Guardian by Anne Davies - “Murray-Darling Basin royal commission report finds gross maladministration.”

All single-use plastics should be banned by 2023 Senate inquiry recommends

A Senate inquiry into Australia’s recycling crisis has recommended that all single-use plastics – which could potentially include takeaway containers, chip packets and coffee cups with plastic linings – be banned by 2023.

All single-use plastic should be banned by 2023 - Senate inquiry.

The wide-ranging report also recommends the establishment of a national container deposit scheme as a response to an unfolding crisis in Australian recycling that forced some councils to tip their recycling into landfill.

The report sets out a blueprint to create a “circular economy” – where all materials used in Australia are then recovered and reused domestically. 

Read the story by Naaman Zhou from The Guardian - “All single-use plastics should be banned by 2023 Senate inquiry recommends.”

Abbott’s wind commissioner has been a boon for renewables, climate body says

The role of Australia’s windfarm commissioner has been a success and should be expanded to include solar and other large-scale renewables, a report by the Climate Change Authority has recommended.

 A windfarm in Bungendore. A Climate Change Authority report
says the role of windfarm commissioner, set up under Tony
 Abbott, has facilitated the uptake of wind energy. 

It says the post, set up under the former prime minister Tony Abbott to handle complaints and investigate potential risks, has actually facilitated the uptake of wind energy by helping to address community concerns.

The controversial role of national windfarm commissioner was established by the Coalition in 2015 as part of a deal with anti-wind senators in response to complaints about turbine noise.

Read the story by Lisa Cox from The Guardian - “Abbott’s wind commissioner has been a boon for renewables, climate body says.”

Dumping clean energy target is 'dealbreaker' for Labor's support

Shadow climate change
minister Mark Butler.

The shadow climate change minister Mark Butler says Labor won’t support the Turnbull government’s new energy policy if it dumps the clean energy target recommended by the chief scientist, Alan Finkel.

With the Turnbull government expected to press ahead with its new energy policy this week after consideration by the cabinet and the party room, Butler issued a clear public warning on Sunday that the loss of the clean energy target meant there was no prospect of bipartisan agreement between the major parties.

Butler said Labor had been prepared to keep an open mind on the clean energy target, even though it was not the opposition’s preferred policy option, because the model had been thought through by the chief scientist and endorsed uniformly by stakeholders across the community.

Read Katharine Murphy’s story on The Guardian - “Dumping clean energy target is 'dealbreaker' for Labor's support.”