Category: Archive

Country Energy denies blackout due to load

admin /6 December, 2005

The first of the summer blackouts predicted by The Generator occurred
on Monday, denying 65,000 homes in Northern NSW power for up to four
hours. The blackout hit just after 4pm, when commerce, industry and
domestic users are all on-line. Monday December 5 was the first really
hot day after weeks of cool weather and many users had turned on their
air-conditioners for the first time this summer.

Despite this
combination of factors refional general manager for Country Energy,
Brian Glawson, said the blackout was not related to the load on the
system. “There was not high demand at the time,” he told the Generator.

UK considers tougher fines to discourage speeding, CO2 emissions rise rapidly at more than 100km/h

admin /5 December, 2005

Climate protection experts were proposing the British Government impose
stricter fines for speeding in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, reported Gerald Traufetter in Spiegel Online on Monday, 28 November. 

Emissions of carbon
dioxide (CO2) jumped exponentially when cars travelled at speeds in
excess of 100km/h, the experts noted in a classified document to the
British Government.

Montreal: Papua New Guinea proposes way to reward developing nations for preserving forests

admin /5 December, 2005

Papua New Guinea was proposing a new system of providing financial
rewards for developing countries that preserved forests to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 11) meeting in
Montreal, reported BBC environment correspondent Tim Hirsch.

The proposal was designed
to overcome the successful objection of environmental groups that
prevented credits being allowed for projects that avoided deforestation
because there would be too many loopholes.

NSW State Govt doles out $37m to help farmers cope with new native vegetation laws

admin /5 December, 2005

The NSW State Government has committed $37 million to help farmers
adjust to financial hardships caused by the new native vegetation laws,
which came into effect on 1 December, reported The Land (1/12/2005, p.5).

The package, which would
kick in from July next year, included $15m for sustainable farming
grants, $12m in exit assistance, and $10m to help farmers unable to pay
to set aside “offset” areas for the environment in return for clearing.

ERA wants to see prices for residential wastewater services gradually decoupled from property values

admin /4 December, 2005

The Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) of Western Australia has
recommended that prices for residential wastewater services should be
gradually decoupled from property values.

Shells of Australia’s molluscs dissolving in increasingly acidic seawater caused by global warming,

admin /4 December, 2005

Shells of Australia’s molluscs dissolving in increasingly acidic seawater caused by global warming, says CSIRO scientist
The protective shells of Australia’s molluscs are being dissolved in
increasingly acidic seawater caused by global warming, a scientist
said, reported The Daily Telegraph (30/11/2005, p.19).