Renewable energy law a step toward a cleaner energy future

20 08 2009

ACF

Through strong public pressure the Parliament has voted to pass the 20% renewable energy target legislation.

Finally Australia is making a big step towards a brighter, cleaner energy future. This is the first substantial piece of climate legislation passed by the Australian Parliament.

This is a big win for the environment and a big win for clean energy jobs. It means that more and more of the energy we use in Australia will be coming from renewable sources, such as solar, wind and geothermal. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Australia, Carbon, Environment

Nick Xenophon to support Labor’s renewable energy target

16 08 2009
  • INDEPENDENT Senator Nick Xenophon will support the Federal Government’s renewable energy target (RET) now Labor has separated it from its emissions trading scheme (ETS).
Senator Nick Xenophobe

Senator Nick Xenophobe

The Coalition and all other non-government senators voted against Labor’s 11 climate change bills in the Senate on Thursday. But Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has since indicated the Government will detach the RET section of the package so it can be voted on separately.

Under the RET, 20 per cent of electricity must come from renewable sources by 2020.

The draft law could start having an impact from January, while the ETS is not due to get under way until mid-2011. Senator Xenophon said there was widespread support for the move.

“The Greens wanted it split off, the Liberals wanted it split off, I wanted it split off, everyone else except the Government,” he told Sky News. ”I think they’ve bowed in to the inevitable. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Australia, Carbon, Environment

Coalition, Greens unveil carbon bill changes

15 08 2009
  • The Federal Opposition and the Greens have both presented the Government with amendments to break the deadlock over the renewable energy target.

Greg Hunt

Greg Hunt

The Opposition parties want the Government to separate the renewable energy plan from the contentious emissions trading scheme legislation.

The Coalition’s environment spokesman, Greg Hunt, says he has put forward amendments that would allow the renewable energy target to be passed.

“The ball is with the Government,” he said.

“We’ve acted in good faith. We’ve provided the amendments.”

A spokeswoman for Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has confirmed the Government received a copy of the Coalition’s proposed changes yesterday afternoon.

The Greens have also put forward amendments which would increase the 20 per cent renewable energy target to 30 per cent of Australia’s electricity needs.

The legislation is listed for debate next week.

abc.net.au


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Los Angeles will end use of coal-fired power

4 07 2009

CoalLOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Los Angeles will eliminate the use of electricity made from coal by 2020, replacing it with power from cleaner renewable energy sources, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.

Consumers of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the largest city-owned utility in the United States with 1.45 million electricity customers, will see higher power bills in the fight against climate change, he added in his inaugural speech for his second four-year term as mayor on Wednesday.

California does not have any coal-fired power plants, a leading contributor to greenhouse gas pollution, but the LADWP now gets 40 percent of its electricity from coal plants outside the state. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Carbon, Environment, World


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