Australian Greens Unveil Safe Climate Bill

 

Released yesterday, the Australian Greens' Safe Climate Bill is what the party is calling first legislative attempt to rapidly transform Australia into a "flourishing carbon neutral powerhouse". 
  
The Bill aims to see Australia's emissions reduced to at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020, and that the 350 ppm goal be enshrined in law.
  
The Greens want to see auctions of all permits instead of free 'grandfathering', based on the recommendations of the Garnaut Review and the experience in Europe.
  
The party also has a vision for Australia to be powered by 100% renewable energy, with a minimum of 30% by 2020. The Greens see no technical or economic reason why Australia cannot secure a reliable supply of clean electricity from a mix of solar power, wind energy, ocean, biomass and geothermal power. 
  
The Greens maintain that with these technologies already developed Australia and ready to scale up to utility size now, it will also benefit regional communities across the nation with abundant new, long-term and high-quality jobs.
  
The Bill would see the removal of solar water heaters and heat pumps from the definition of renewable energy, however, these would be supported through the payment of upfront costs of implementation and paid back by savings on energy bills.
  
The Greens also want to see the Solar Credits program ended, replaced by a gross, national feed in tariff for renewable energy that would give investors the certainty they need to invest in renewable energy and provide targeted support to all renewable energy technologies at any size - from rooftop solar panels to gigawatt scale solar thermal or geothermal power stations.
  
A briefing and full texts relating to the Safe Climate Bill can be viewed here.

What are your thoughts on the Safe Climate Bill? Discuss your views in our forums.

Kyocera Donates Solar Panels To Power Uganda Schools

 

Kyocera Corporation has announced it is donating and installing off grid solar power systems to 15 schools in Uganda over the next five years.
 
Each package will include a 600 watt solar power system based on Kyocera solar panels and incorporate deep cycle batteries for electricity storage.
 
The first of the installations was completed at three primary and middle schools last month.
 
Approximately only 20 percent of urban areas and 4 percent of rural areas in Uganda are supplied with electricity; with much of the population depending on kerosene lamps or generators for lighting and electricity in the home. This is not only an expensive and carbon dioxide emissions intensive way to generate electricity and light, but poses health and safety issues.
 
While a 600 watt power system may not sound like much by Australian standards, the power these systems will provide can make a huge difference in the quality of education in the schools. Uganda's adult literacy rate is only 66.8 percent, 
 
The donation of solar power systems by Kyocera will provide light for classrooms and to power televisions and radios for educational purposes. The systems may also provide a spark of inspiration to students to pursue a career in solar power or other forms of renewable energy.
 
Kyocera Corporation, the headquarters and parent company of the global Kyocera group, was founded in 1959 in Kyoto, Japan. In 1975, the company helped to organize the Japan Solar Energy Corp. and began production of silicon solar cells in 1976.
 
Related:
 
Australian schools solar power grant

News for Monday 12 October, 2009

 

• Florida's New 90,000 Solar Panel Power Station
  

View all news for Monday 12 October, 2009 on one page

Recent News

 

• Friday 09 October, 2009
  


• Thursday 08 October, 2009
  


• Wednesday 07 October, 2009
  


• Tuesday 06 October, 2009
  


• Monday 05 October, 2009
  

News archive