Ground broken on first renewable project in Hay
Clean Peak Energy has officially commenced construction of its Hay Solar Farm, adjacent to Hay Cemetery, east of Hay township. The advancement of the project was marked with an on-site sod turning, which brought together Clean Peak Energy executives and staff, Hay Shire Council and host landholders.
The Western District – once a green and pleasant land – now a turbine wasteland
Back when Kookaburra was young and out for adventure, he used to jump into a car and drive overnight to the Western District of Victoria, traversing half of New South Wales and then half of Victoria to get there. A nap at a truckstop near Tocumwal was about the only break as the miles signs (in those days) clicked by. The sun rising near Maryborough whilst the car thrust its way forward through the ranges and down to Beaufort signalled the journey was nearing its end. A quick pit stop and then out on that last stretch to Stockyard Hill and my destination – a poll Dorset sheep stud owned by some old family friends – who always managed to find a spare room for the blow-in.
Newstead energy: Community Q&A
Close to 50 members of the Newstead community participated in a question-and-answer session about the Newstead Community Energy Project on Thursday 22 August, following the launch of the new solar farm. Representatives from project partners Renewable Newstead and Flow Power were on hand to explain the thinking behind the partnership, some technological context and the benefits to consumers for joining the project.
Renewable energy in Newstead
Newstead hosted a horde of prominent politicians, TV crews and corporates in high-visibility vests last week at its innovative solar farm. Minister for Energy and Resources, the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio, accompanied by Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards, visited on Thursday 22 August to officially open the Newstead Community Energy Project, initiated by locals under the banner of Renewable Newstead.
Power price pain – Major local businesses struggling with rising electricity bills
Hugh Schuitemaker. The sustainability of Riverland horticulture is being pressured by "unavoidable" increases to electricity costs, according to numerous local business figures ... Nippy’s joint managing director Ben Knispel said costs had increased despite attempts to use less electricity ... Century Orchards’ annual bill is now well over $1m, which has increased from about $700,000 two years ago.
A national biofuels feedstock strategy to give flight to aviation’s net-zero ambitions: Canegrowers
Representatives from across Australia's agriculture and fuel supply chain have urged the Federal Government to immediately initiate a national low-carbon liquid fuel feedstock strategy to give effect to the ambitious agenda outlined in the Federal Government Aviation White Paper released this week. The industry groups include GrainGrowers, the Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC) and Queensland Cane Growers Organisation (CANEGROWERS).
Sophie’s heartfelt message: “Stop the transmission lines”
On Friday ... hundreds of farmers rallied in Bendigo, to bring awareness to a number of issues facing rural communities, particularly the subject of renewables, and calling on the government for answers ... 13-year-old local Sophie Burke, stepped in at short notice to speak bravely about her own future as a sixth generation farmer at Jeffcott:...
Murrindindi Shire Council statement of the proposed Seymour Wind Farm project
Murrindindi Shire Council acknowledges the proposal by Fera Australia to construct a large wind farm called the Seymour Wind Farm in the area between Avenel, Longwood, Ponkeen Creek and Ruffy in Victoria. The proposed project is said to feature 80 to 100 wind turbines that are up to 245 metres tall and require approximately 30km of new 330kV transmission lines, proposed to be overhead, mainly across private and crown land within Murrindindi Shire.
SunCable receives major Commonwealth Government environmental approval for flagship project: SunCable
SunCable has achieved another major regulatory milestone, receiving approval from the Commonwealth Government for the Australian component of its flagship project, Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink) ... "SunCable will now focus its efforts on the next stage of planning to advance the project towards a Final Investment Decision targeted by 2027" ... SunCable will be investing further in communities in the Northern Territory, Singapore and Indonesia to progress the next phase.
Where’s the community benefit to industrial green energy?
As the industrial sprawl of green energy marches across the government-identified Renewable Energy Zones (REZ), Gannawarra Shire Councillor Garner Smith has renewed his call for negotiating lasting benefits from the VNI West project and renewable developments for Gannawarra residents. “Personally, I do not see an overall long-term benefit for communities like Gannawarra, out of either the VNI West power line or the renewable projects. Little to no long-term employment, unattractive infrastructure on a scale that the community does not comprehend and a benefits package that lacks detail and sounds more like welfare than an opportunity.
Woodside’s carbon farming plan is destroying family farms
We all know Woodside, Australia’s biggest gas producer, but many might not realise it is also one of the country’s biggest CO2 emitters ... the Australian energy sector has been all too willing to overpromise on what is achievable in reducing their CO2 footprint, as a result they are now desperately searching for solutions. This, unfortunately, is where WA farmland comes into play ... That win-win plan is to plant trees – lots of trees – on productive farmland and then lock that land up for the next 100 years so it no longer produces food or ï¬bre.
Study shows renewables raise food prices: University of Auckland
As countries including Australia embrace renewable energy production, a recent study sheds light on some overlooked impacts of this transition. While the benefits of renewable energy are well-established, researchers are also examining the less discussed economic and social impacts of the move towards ‘green’ energy.
Calls for urgent Wind Farm Code reform
AgForce has said it is increasingly concerned that delays to urgently needed reforms to the Wind Farm Code could put agricultural landholders at potentially crippling financial risk. Queensland’s peak representative body for farmers is disappointed that despite a review of the Wind Farm Code last year, the Queensland Government has not released any reforms to the Code since.
New wind farm in north-west Victoria to power 202,000 homes: Plibersek
The Albanese Government has ticked off a new wind farm in Victoria which will generate enough energy to power 202,000 Victorian homes. The 312 megawatt Wimmera Plains Energy Facility is located 10 kilometres north-east from Horsham and includes up to 52 wind turbines connecting to an existing 220 kilovolt transmission line.
Lovell calls for review of windfarm setback: Lovell
Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has called on the Minister for Planning to review the windfarm setback distance, after concerns were raised by Nanneella community members in a public meeting with a wind energy facility developer. Ms Lovell spoke in parliament last week to ask the Minister to review the distance that wind turbines must be set back from homes to limit the impact of noise, and consider extending it in light of increasing turbine heights.
For foreign wind and solar operators: $200 million annual windfall
"Today I read a report that struggling Victorian families are forking out an estimated $200 million per annum to foreign wind-turbine operators, largely collected through charges on household bills. That $200 million price tag will be even higher if Victorian and Federal Labor succeed in their scheme to turn Mallee into a spider’s web of transmission lines, wind turbines and blanket solar panels": Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster.
Goolgowi chook farm goes off-grid in Australian first
Australia’s largest off-grid poultry farm has commenced operations near Goolgowi. Operated by Agright, a commercial poultry grower in Australia and New Zealand, the 40 shed operation ‘Meriki’ claims to be saving more than 1690 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Work begins to add Jabiluka site to Kakadu National Park: Plibersek, King
The Albanese Labor Government has advised the Northern Territory Government that the Jabiluka Mineral Lease should not be renewed, allowing the site to be added to Kakadu National Park. The Commonwealth advice has enabled the Northern Territory Government to decline to extend the lease of the Jabiluka uranium project.
Landholders urged to make submissions
Member for Mallee, Dr. Anne Webster, has written to landholders whose farms, environment, amenity and safety on their land is threatened by the VNI-West transmission project and proposed wind turbine installations, encouraging them to make a submission to the State Government’s Developing the 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan. “I’ve just seen the map and despite earlier indications of six Victorian Renewable Energy Zones, clearly Mallee is the prime target in Labor’s sights,” Dr Webster said.
Gas deals signed with Mereenie and Palm Valley: Lawler, Monaghan
The Territory Government and Mereenie and Palm Valley joint ventures have signed a six year gas supply deal commencing from 2025. The agreements will provide energy security to the Territory until the end of 2030 ... The Mereenie and Palm Valley Fields are the largest onshore gas production fields in the Territory and have been secure energy sources for over 40 years.
Jabiluka Mineral Lease not renewed: Monaghan
In March, 2024, Energy Resources Australia (ERA) applied for a 10 year lease renewal on the Jabiluka Uranium mine, which ERA has previously held for 42 years. Based on advice from the Federal Government, the Jabiluka Mineral Lease will not be renewed. As the Mineral Lease relates to a prescribed substance, uranium, there are strict regularity requirements in place ...
Daylight saving and wild dogs up for debate: NSW Farmers Association
Wild dogs, shortening daylight saving and improving the renewable energy rollout were just some of agriculture’s hot topics up for debate as NSW Farmers returned for the final day of its 2024 Annual Conference yesterday. NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said while Australia needed strong farms to feed the future, the sector was facing a wide range of challenges that delegates were keen to address...
