Renewable energy driven by feed-in tariffs that recognise the full economic and environmental benefits to the electricity network of embedded generation, and sourced via small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as residential households, offer enormous potential for Queensland in its fight against climate change. It is these aspects of Climate Smart 2050 are the focus of this submission.

Click here to see ATA’s submission.

While Australia struggles to find new ways to become sustainable, rural Victorians are already walking the talk, new research has found.

The Alternative Technology Association (ATA) and the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC), profiled 10 real-life examples of innovative community-based projects that are successfully dealing with the rising cost of energy, and water scarcity in rural and regional Victoria.

The projects ranged from the setting up of a community wind farm in Hepburn, to biogas generation in Tatura and wastewater reuse Ouyen.

One of the projects highlighted in the Community-Based Water and Energy Initiatives report is Australia’s first community-owned renewable energy facility, the Hepburn Community Wind Park. The concept was developed by local group, the Hepburn Renewable Energy Association and when complete will consist of two 2MW wind turbines generating enough electricity to power the entire Daylesford / Hepburn Springs community.

It has become increasingly evident that real innovation is taking place in Victorian rural and regional communities to improve energy and water supplies. The drivers for these projects are various; some address issues of access, reliability or affordability while others are focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reduced availability of water due to climate change [...]

On Thursday 9th October the ATA and The Australia Institute presented the forum “Can emissions trading save the planet?” at Federation Hall in Melbourne. You can know download an audio of the foum from the ATA webite.

Speakers, Richard Denniss and Alan Pears, discussed Australia’s looming emissions trading scheme -the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. They looked at what emission trading involves, how the proposed cap and trade scheme should work and if it is likely to work.

They also discussed why voluntary contributions like buying GreenPower won’t contribute to reducing emissions under the proposed scheme.

In keeping with ReNew:technology for a sustainable future magazine’s theme, ATA is looking for a shed that excels in sustainability.

Are you building an electric car in your shed? Have you built a water-saving device? Is your shed solar powered? Does it have its own wind turbine? Or did you build your own wind turbine in your shed? Is your shed made from recycled materials?

The ATA has just released updated fifth editions of the very popular Solar hot water: plan your own solar hot water system and Solar electricity: plan your own solar electricity system booklets.

Both booklets give details on features of various systems and are a good starting point if investing in solar hot water or solar electricity for the home, school or even just the shed.

ATA welcomes the opportunity to submit to Infrastructure Australia, to identify relevant
infrastructure projects requiring funding and progression in order to increase Australia’s
productivity, diversify Australia’s economic capabilities, build on Australia’s global competitive
advantages and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
Click here to see ATA’s submission.

When: Thursday 23 October
Time: 7:15pm for 7:30pm start
Where: Albion Peace Centre, 102 MacDonald Rd, Albion (underneath Albion Overpass; UBD 140 Ref. D14)
Cost: $3, to help cover venue hire costs

Oregon Governer Ted Kulongoski has proposed a plan that would allow people with home solar-energy systems to be compensated for putting power back on the grid.

It would make Oregon the first state in the country to employ such an incentive, which is modeled after a program in Germany in which individuals are compensated for twice the value of what they pay for the home-generated solar energy they put back on the power grid, said Dave Van’t Hof, the governor’s sustainability policy advisor.

Click here to read the full article.