Clarence and Richmond Valley businesses suffering in ongoing energy dispute: Williamson
Nationals MP for Clarence, Richie Williamson is urging the Minns Labor Government to step in and resolve the ongoing industrial dispute between the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and the state’s major energy companies, which is heavily impacting local businesses across the Clarence and Richmond Valleys. Months of strike action by the ETU has delayed thousands of projects, including critical infrastructure such as housing and roadworks, while driving some businesses to the brink of bankruptcy.
Mortlake Energy Hub to power South West Victoria: D’Ambrosio
Renewable energy developer BrightNight now has the green light to begin construction on the $700 million Mortlake Energy Hub in the state’s southwest. The project will combine a 360-megawatt solar energy facility with a 300-megawatt battery energy storage system capable of powering 140,000 homes and cutting emissions by 41.4 million tonnes annually.
Landholders the priority for VNI West route update: TCV
Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) is prioritising contact with landholders in communications about the planned route for the new transmission line. TCV has narrowed the draft corridor for VNI West to a preferred easement of 70 metres along most of the route, subject to the Environment Effects Statement (EES) ... Landholder Liaisons will seek to meet in person to listen to concerns, answer questions on topics such as compensation, and discuss the next steps.
Ergon service fee increase explained
Energy Minister Mick de Brenni has explained why Ergon customers have been handed a 13.4 per cent service fee increase on their latest power bill. Mr de Brenni’s explanation was in response to a Question on Notice in parliament asked by local Member for Condamine Pat Weir, who wanted to know why the service fee increased from $1.09521 on 30 June 2024 to $1.2424 on 28 July 2024 …
Electricity charges
Suzie Christensen. Operationally, based on those averages, electricity generation and supply for the Island is 43 per cent more expensive than prior to the solar installation, even with the grant from [the Australian Renewable Energy Agency] ARENA. The Board’s electricity charges have only increased 10 per cent from 2021 to 2024 in that time.
Join the Gannawarra Energy bus tour
Residents wanting to learn about key proposed and completed energy infrastructure in the Gannawarra are encouraged to join Gannawarra Shire Council and various agencies for a free information morning and bus tour. Council, Edify Energy, VicGrid, Transmission Company Victoria and the Australian Energy Market Operator have united to host this special event, beginning at the Kerang Memorial Hall...
Flinders Shire Council embraces new proposed energy partnerships
Flinders Shire Council is excited to announce its participation in the Central Western Queensland Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) Energy and Economic Forum, held in Barcaldine last week. The event attracted a full house of stakeholders from across Queensland, all united by a shared vision for the future of energy and economic development in the region.
New chief to lead energy transformation
The Member for Indi, Helen Haines, has welcomed the appointment by the Australian government of Tony Mahar to his new role as the new Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner ... "I have worked productively with Mr Mahar during his time as the CEO of the NFF on issues like sustainable agriculture facilitators, renewable energy and biosecurity levies," Dr Haines said.
Tony, we need “You” to remain “You”
Tony Mahar is a seriously good operator, widely respected across the ag sector, but one suspects the government is hoping he’ll morph into their Lord Hee-Haw—a smooth-talking apologist who can help them roll out their 40 turbines a month, and thousands of kilometres of power lines across picturesque rural farmland by 2030 ... The government must be worried as the bush is in revolt and the government's secret polling must have them worried. Hence the roll out of the conservative version of Henry Kissinger to calm the locals.
New Energy Infrastructure Commissioner to facilitate leading practice in the reliable renewables rollout: Bowen
The Albanese Government has appointed Tony Mahar as the new Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (AEIC). Mr Mahar will draw on his extensive experience in rural and regional Australia, most recently as CEO of the National Farmers Federation, in this important role. Mr Mahar will work as an intermediary between farming and regional communities, industry and government to promote leading community engagement practices as Australia transforms its energy system ...
Meeting questions VicGrid plans
Marian Haddrick. VicGrid CEO Alistair Parker met with a hundred concerned locals from Birchip and the surrounding area last Thursday at the Birchip Leisure Centre. Birchip is in the Regional Energy Zone (REZ) that is connecting supporting transmission infrastructure from Victoria’s west in Horsham to the north of the state in Red Hills.
Sheep in hard hats?! Wind turbines health hazard for farmers and sheep: McArthur
Serrated trailing edges have broken off wind turbines endangering CFA volunteers, farmers and livestock in the vicinity of the infrastructure. Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur raised this issue in the Parliament citing it as dangerous and reckless. “My question for the Minister for Agriculture concerns news that turbines at the brand new Golden Plains wind farm are falling to pieces."
Waste gas-to-energy project to cut emissions in mining: Dick
The Miles Labor Government is backing Central Queensland’s sustainable future by investing in a new gas-to-electricity power project that will reduce mining emissions by more than one million tonnes of carbon dioxide. The project will expand the underground mine’s drainage system to capture more fugitive gas, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere.
New machine needed to meet challenges
In its latest update, Snowy Hydro has advised that a new tunnel boring machine (TBM) will be deployed to help keep the Snowy 2.0 project on its delivery timeline. New ground testing techniques have provided a better understanding of the full extent of a complex fault zone on the route of the 17km tunnel that will connect Snowy 2.0’s upper reservoir to its underground power station.
Open letter to CFA management, District Controllers, VFBV and CFA Brigades in Renewable Energy Zones
We are a collective of CFA Brigades in Districts 16 and 18 who have taken a position where our Brigade will not commit to operating on or around electricity generation and transmission infrastructure by taking a perimeter only defence position except for where lives or safety of public is threatened. Specifically, this is Renewable Energy Infrastructure (REI) being wind turbines, large-scale solar and battery installations, high voltage (220 kva plus) transmission lines and connection hubs.
Parliament to examine transmission expansion
State Parliament’s Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee will conduct an inquiry proposed by the Liberals and Nationals into the expansion of Victoria’s high-voltage power transmission system. It will examine the expansion as proposed by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), VicGrid and the Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) as well as the expansion of Victorian transmission connections associated with the Victorian Government’s proposed “renewable energy zones”.
Galore solar farm operators begin early planning
Sean Cunningham. Galore is set to get a solar farm which will contain half a million solar panels, but it won’t be coming to fruition anytime soon. Electricity retail business Flow Power plans to construct the solar farm near Galore, however its Head of Project Development Mark Raymond said the planning is in the early stages.
Riding an eBike around Australia to promote renewables in the bush
When I sat down with Gregory Andrews in the cool of the New Crown Hotel in Hay’s main street, it was following an incredibly blustery trek of 170 kilometres across the Hay Plains. On the day he arrived in Hay, the strong September winds and a flat tyre had delayed his arrival from Balranald by several hours ... Travelling solo, on an eBike, Mr Andrews spoke passionately about his trip around Australia and the reasons behind it.
Nationals’ support for today’s Farmer Rally
Member for Mallee, Dr. Anne Webster, will stand with Mallee farmers and her Nationals colleagues shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds more farmers from across the country today (September 10), in an unprecedented rally against Labor’s anti-farming ideology. Dr Webster said Labor is destroying agriculture and making life impossible for producers of food and fibre, due to endless cuts to the regions, anti-farming legislation and unnecessary red tape.
Murray River group of councils advocate for community
Council leaders from Gannawarra, Swan Hill, Mildura, Loddon, Campaspe and Moira shires visited Canberra and Bendigo over the last two weeks, speaking to politicians and advisors on water management, renewable energy, housing and the funding of local government ... The latest round of buybacks was a pressing issue for the group.
Ergon calls for extra vigilance
Almost a dozen power poles have been lost in the past few months due to fires from what’s thought to have been a series of separate hazard reduction burns across the state. Energy Queensland Chief Operating Officer Paul Jordon said while hazard reduction burning is an essential tool for managing vegetation and reducing fire risks, it is crucial to exercise caution to prevent unintended electrical infrastructure damage.
VNI West land access agreements surpass 100: TCV, AEMO
Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) now has land access agreements in place for more than 100 properties in the VNI West draft corridor to allow important survey work to continue. The announcement of the preferred easement that will host the VNI West transmission line is expected in coming weeks ... "Our main objective is to find the most suitable location for the preferred easement that minimises impacts to farms and farm operations, balanced with consideration of the environment and other site constraints": VNI West Program Director Tony Hedley.
