ONCE the preserve of technological tinkerers and off-grid tree changers, the renewable energy revolution has finally gained street “cred” – not just Collins and Pitt streets credibility, more your Bond and Wall streets credibility.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For the first time, worldwide investment in renewable energy plants is ahead of that for fossil fuels – attracting $187 billion last year compared with $157 billion for natural gas, oil and coal, reports Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
Accelerating installations of solar and wind plants are leading to lower equipment prices, making clean energy more competitive with coal.
“The progress of renewables has been nothing short of remarkable,” says UN environment program executive secretary Achim Steiner.
“You have record investment in the midst of an economic and financial crisis.”
Also for the first time, investments in developing countries (mostly in China) exceeded those in advanced nations.
The wind industry is expected to install 43 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity this year and 48 GW next year – up from 36 GW in 2010, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).
Renewable energy is now providing 9.6 per cent of Australia’s energy with investments of $5.6 billion and 8000 direct jobs in the sector.
LOCALLY, the $200m Flyers Creek Wind Farm proposal has its environmental assessment on display.
The developer, Infigen – Australia’s largest wind farm operator – is talking to the local community to discuss involvement in the project through a co-operative for local investors to be able to own one of the 44 proposed turbines. Each turbine in the proposed development would generate enough energy for over 100 homes.
IF you’re wondering what Bathurst Regional Council is doing to reduce waste, here are some solutions with small but significant impacts.
New water fountains have been installed to allow people to refill their own bottles rather than adding more plastic bottle waste to our waterways and public spaces. They are located at the Adventure Playground on Durham Street and Bicentennial Park, adjacent to the Macquarie River. The more they are used the more reason to install more fountains.
Council also has collection points for mobile phones at the Civic Centre and Waste Management Centre. Batteries can be recycled via collection points at the Civic Centre, Waste Management Centre and Scallywags Childcare Centre (for families of children attending only).
There are other private businesses which participate in battery and mobile phone collections and Planet Ark manages the Recycling Near You website which seeks to promote local recycling opportunities. Go to http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/batteries/BathurstNSW
