Three weeks before the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal was announced, a new plan to build a large renewable energy hub at Port Kembla was unveiled. Melanie Barnes reports.
wind power
The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act constitutes the boldest climate action so far by the US government, writes Richard Heinberg. However, this doesn't mean the US or the world is on track to a safe climate future.
Right now, there is an opportunity to slash Australia’s carbon emissions by 5 million tonnes a year in one stroke. The city of Port Augusta in South Australia has all the right conditions to make it Australia’s first baseload renewable energy hub.
The two coal-fired power stations at Port Augusta are getting old. Industry experts say they may be forced to close as soon as 2015.
State planning minister Brad Hazzard released draft guidelines to regulate NSW wind farms in December. The guidelines allow anyone with a residence within two kilometres to veto a wind power project.
If the guidelines become law, this would put the brakes on the wind industry, as the coal seam gas industry bolts ahead.