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FRIDAY 21 AUGUST, 2009 | |

Job Losses - The Coal Power Industry Furphy

As the lawmakers continue to duke it out behind the scenes over Australia's Emissions Trading Scheme; the Australian public is continuously assaulted by the coal fired power generation lobby with rumours of massive job losses if their industries should suffer as a result of emission control legislation.
 
Aside from the widely-recognised fact that in order to have a healthy economy, the environment must also be healthy - and the environment has already suffered greatly at the hands of coal; the jobs loss bogeyman would appear to be nothing more than scare mongering. Jobs could be lost; but would be regained in other, greener industries - and far more of them.
 
Lester R. Brown is an American environmentalist and founder of the Earth Policy Institute. He is the recipient of 40 honorary degrees and has been described by the Washington Post as "one of the world's most influential thinkers."
 
According to Mr. Brown:
 
- Every billion dollars invested in wind farms creates some 3,350 jobs
 
- A billion dollars of investment in retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient create more than 6,000 jobs
 
- A billion dollars invested in solar power installations generates 1,480 jobs.
 
- Pouring a billion dollars into the construction of coal fired plants? Just 870 jobs.
 
Mr. Brown's book, Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization, is becoming required reading in some universities. It outlines the problems facing humanity in terms of climate change and environmental degradation, but more importantly, it lays down a blueprint of how humanity can avoid a disaster - and renewable energy plays an important role in that blueprint.

Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization can be downloaded free of charge in PDF format.
 

     

Australia New Zealand Solar Energy Society 47th Conference

Solar09, the 47th annual conference of the Australia New Zealand Solar Energy Society (ANZSES,) is taking place in Townsville between September 29th and October 2nd.

The conference, hosted by James Cook University, will bring together some of the world’s leading minds and professionals from the renewable energy sector to discuss the future of solar power in Australia, New Zealand and throughout the world.
 
With the COP15 round of climate talks in December of this year fast approaching, Solar09 presents Australia’s solar power and renewable energy community with an opportunity to discuss the important role solar power can play in transforming Australia’s energy supply and shaping the future of our nation. 
 
As well as showcasing the latest developments in renewable energy technologies, Solar09 will provide food for thought on some of the issues influencing Australia’s alternative energy policy, with key note presentations from the Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett (TBC); the Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Urban Water, Greg Hunt; Christine Milne, deputy leader of the Greens; and the Queensland Minister for Mines, Energy and Trade Stephen Robertson. 
 
Delegates will also have the opportunity to hear from Olivier Drücke, president of the European Solar Thermal Energy Foundation, who will discuss how policy-making has facilitated the development of a strong solar energy industry in Europe, from which Australia could gain valuable insights.*
 
The conference also includes a technical visit to Magnetic Island, sponsored by Ergon Energy, to view progress on the ‘Solar Suburb’ initiative it is undertaking as part of the Townsville: Queensland Solar City project.
 
Energy Matters is proud to support Solar 09 and urges the solar power and alternative energy community to get behind the conference in one of the most important years for the renewable energy industry in Australia. 
 
For more information on the conference or to register your interest in attending Solar09, visit http://eng1.jcu.edu.au/anzses/ . We look forward to seeing you in Townsville! 
 
* Olivier Drücke’s trip is made possible through the support of Sustainability Victoria. 
 
Solar09 is grateful for the support of the following corporate partners:
 
Ergon Energy
Wizard Power
Tokyo Electron Limited/Oerlikon
Federal Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Suntech
Abengoa Solar
Griffith Hack

     

News for Thursday 20 August, 2009

• NEWSFLASH: Australia's Solar Credits Legislation (Finally) Passed
• Australia's Renewable Energy Target Legislation - Update
• Suntech Pluto Breaks Solar Panel Efficiency Record

View all news for Thursday 20 August, 2009 on one page

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