Energy

Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump this morning signed a USD$100m equity investment in the Arafura Nolans rare earths project at Aileron, 135 km north of Alice Springs. "Once operational, this project will produce 5 per cent of global rare earths - essential for energy security and defence," says a statement from the Prime Minister.

Matt Canavan’s exposé at the recent Senate Estimates, which had the Department of Agriculture’s executives sweating in their seats, deserves wide circulation ... “There’s lots of talk about the need to increase reforestation—effectively, the conversion of agricultural land to forests ..." ... If Matt Canavan is the Senate’s zealot hunter, then Western Australia’s Senator Matthew O’Sullivan is its Maremma the Sheepdog that protects its flock ... In committee, O’Sullivan’s questioning tore open the government’s $139.8 million Sheep Industry Transition Assistance Package ...

Regional Cities New South Wales says regional communities that host renewable energy projects should be able to access locally-generated power during a blackout. Regional Cities New South Wales (RCNSW) Chair Cr Steve Krieg has written to Energy Minister Penny Sharpe to ask the State Government to remove rules that prevent local generators supplying electricity in times of need.

The Crisafulli Government has unveiled its Energy Roadmap to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for Queenslanders. By improving Queensland’s existing energy assets while building what is needed for the future, the Crisafulli Government is putting downward pressure on energy prices, optimising investment to respect taxpayer money and boosting private sector investment in new generation. 

Rainforest Reserves Australia (RRA) has released a detailed and interactive Australian Renewable Energy map, created by conservationist Steven Nowakowski in collaboration with RRA, which it says "reveals the true scale of industrial renewable energy projects across the nation". It has elicited unsurprisingly contrasting responses from Labor and The Nationals.

The ink is barely dry on Canberra’s new 2035 carbon targets, and the climate catastrophists are already eyeing 2050, the holy grail when net zero will finally be achieved. Out in the Wheatbelt, most farmers shrug. Another distant date, another government promise, most have tuned out with the view that what I can’t see does not hurt me — a bit like the GRDC levy that nicks 1 per cent of farm-gate revenue. But let’s be clear ...

Don Fuller. Has the NT Government been taken to the cleaners by the gas industry or is the government simply incompetent? It seems clear that it has bought far too much gas at far too high a price.

"We’ve consistently told TCV they must take a people-first approach and genuinely engage in a meaningful manner.” “Handing landholders a letter saying they will compulsory access their property to do land surveys flanked by a lawyer is completely tone-deaf and will only further add to mounting opposition to this project.”

The Pyramid Hill was a hive of activity on Sunday as community members from Loddon and Gannawarra Shires gathered to discuss industrial renewable developments openly. The meeting hosted by Loddon Valley Renewables Awareness Group provided an open community forum, something that is avoided at all costs for transmission line and renewable developments, as one speaker framed it, "divide and conquer" is the standard modus operandi.

"This funding initiative is an exciting new opportunity for the forestry sector," according to Cr Karen Stephens, president of Timber Towns Victoria and Mayor of Glenelg Shire Council, "ultimately using the whole of the tree and turning what would have been wasted wood fibre into a valuable low-carbon resource for use in other industries."

Transgrid says it has unveiled one of the biggest and most sophisticated substations in the Southern Hemisphere, with the completion of the Buronga substation. The completion occurred as powerlines from the new powerline from Buronga to Wagga Wagga were strung across the Cobb Highway between Hay and Deniliquin ...

...Using vanadium sourced from Julia Creek, the Townsville facility will anchor a pit-to-port product manufacturing chain, supplying vanadium flow batteries for global energy storage markets. The project is expected to support nearly 600 jobs across North and North West Queensland, with early works scheduled for 2026 and operations to commence in early 2028.

A groundbreaking 26-megawatt hybrid renewable energy system has begun full operations at a New South Wales mine site, marking the first time an off-grid solar and battery system has powered a mining operation in the state.

NSW Farmers is calling for urgent protections for farmers who host renewables after the former Energy Infrastructure Commissioner warned farmers could be on the hook for millions in the future. In an interview published on Wednesday, former Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Andrew Dyer warned farmers could be left “on the hook” for the costs of decommissioning old renewable installations on their farms, if contracts were unclear on “who pays what”.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has expressed deep disappointment at the passing of the VicGrid Bill through the Legislative Council, warning it grants sweeping powers to the government while doing little to protect farmers and regional communities.

Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana together with The Energy Charter are proud to announce the launch of the innovative Regional Energy Collaboration Framework - a pioneering initiative designed to transform the way energy organisations and regional communities collaborate during Australia’s clean energy transition.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has written to state MPs to vote down the contentious VicGrid Amendment Bill that would pave the way for police-backed powers to force entry onto farms and slap landholders with fines of up to $12,100. VFF President Brett Hosking is reiterating previous calls to halt the Bill ahead of it being debated in State Parliament this Thursday.

Australia is tracking well to meet its 2030 climate pollution target, with new emissions data showing emissions fell by 1.4 per cent or 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in the year to March 2025 ... In that period, 440.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions were recorded, which is 28 per cent below 2005 levels...

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan’s REAL productivity roundtable has delivered frank advice to lift Australia’s freefalling productivity rate. Senator Canavan convened the real productivity roundtable ... to discuss the real issues impacting Australians’ standard of living.

Hundreds of farmers at Marnoo today are telling the Victorian Labor Government they do not want VNI West, they do not want WRL and they don't want their farmland made into renewable infrastructure," said Dr Anne Webster MP, Member for Mallee and Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government, Territories and Regional Communications.

The Albanese Government is supporting the emerging offshore renewable industry to develop new technology and unlock the sector’s full potential. Today we are releasing new guidance to help developers, researchers, scientists and other interested parties apply for Research and Demonstration licences in declared offshore zones, establishing a home for offshore renewables research, as well as commercial generation projects.