Large scale wind power

A local energy lobby has approached developers about a plan to bring the traditional mining hub of Kalgoorlie-Boulder into a national renewable energy project

The project includes the creation of a state of the art renewable energy station in the region bringing with it the promise of a resources future for the Goldfields after existing mined minerals dry up.

The Goldfields Renewable Energy Lobby was formed by local businessmen in August to look into ways to develop renewable energy in the Goldfields.

“They’ve estimated there’s about 40 years of gold and nickel mining left before it goes into decline,” GREL spokesman Rod Botica said.

“We need to use the opportunities we’ve got now and to build on our success to set the Goldfields up for a sustainable future.”

By Professor Sandiford is director of the University of Melbourne's Energy Research Institute. Published by The Canberra Times, February 18, 2011.

Today at Parliament House, the Gillard Government's Multi-Party Climate Change Committee will meet to continue its work developing a national carbon- pricing policy. Given that Australia's carbon emissions are heading in the wrong direction, these efforts are of increased importance. Recently released analysis from the Department of Climate Change estimates that in 2020, our economy will emit 24 per cent more carbon than in 2000.

Australia needs a coherent climate and energy policy to arrest its ballooning carbon emissions. It was encouraging to see the Gillard Government quickly assemble the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee. Achieving a price on carbon is an important tool in the policy toolbox and should be implemented.

26,400 turbines to wean Britain off its carbon habit

By Michael Savage, Political Correspondent

Revolutionary plans for a massive expansion of offshore wind farms have been unveiled in a £100bn project designed to usher in a new era of green energy for Britain.

A quarter of the country's electricity needs would be met through wind power by 2020 under the strategy, with the construction of 6,400 turbines within nine sites dotted around the coast. The programme amounts to the biggest energy supply shake-up since the discovery of the North Sea oil and gas fields more than 40 years ago.