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50MW wind farm can cut emissions by 115,000 tonnes a year: A typical wind turbine could meet the energy needs of up to 1000 homes. A typical 50 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Australia could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 65,000 and
115,000 tonnes a year.

Capacity around 640MW, with 250MW under construction: Wind energy capacity in Australia had increased from 2.7MW in 1996, to 10MW in 2000 and to around 640MW in early 2006, with another 250MW under construction.

Capacity likely to plateau around 1000-1600MW: This capacity represented about 1 per cent of all electricity produced in Australia each year. With no additional incentives, installed capacity was expected to plateau between 1000MW and 1600MW.

1.2 per cent of generation in 2015: At an installed capacity of 1200MW, wind generation was projected to account for 1.2 per cent of electricity production in 2015 and around 1 per cent in 2025.

Estimated generation share on State basis:The discussion paper produced the following table, using Electricity Supply Association of Australia (ESAA) figures, on the estimated percentage share of wind in the electricity generation mix on a State basis in 2005, 2010 and 2015:

Reference: Discussion paper on “National Code for Wind Farms” by Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) of the Department of the Environment and Heritage released on 3 May 2006. Address: John Gorton Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes. ACT. 2600. GPO Box 787, Canberra. ACT. 2601. Phone: (02) 6274 1888.
http://www.greenhouse.gov.au

Erisk Net, 3/5/2006

State governments will reject a federal proposal to give local
councils the power to veto wind farm developments because of
community opposition following Federal Environment Minister Ian
Campbell’s discussion paper proposing greater industry regulation,
reported The Age, online at www.theage.com.au

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Hanford nuclear-waste site is a big ol’ mess
The cleanup effort at the nuke-waste-riddled Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state is looking like one big fustercluck. The finish date has been delayed from 2011 to 2017 or later, extending the time that 53 million gallons of radioactive and toxic waste will sit in leak-prone tanks near the Columbia River. Sixty-seven of the 177 tanks have leaked already, seeping at least a million gallons of waste underground.

This week, a watchdog group identified what it said were two more leaks the Department of Energy hadn’t yet publicly acknowledged. Taxpayers are currently forking over $1.4 million a day to build a facility to clean up the site and deal with the waste; the estimated final cost of the project has nearly tripled in the last six years to $11.3 billion. And as the price tag and problems grow, so does the likelihood that Congress or the DOE will seek cheaper or less safe solutions.

Go straight to the source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer , Lisa Stiffler and Charles Pope, 01 May 2006

Add the walrus to the list of species threatened by climate change.
A new study finds unprecedented pup abandonment in the Arctic due to disappearing sea ice.

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Licence could fetch up to $2 million: The Goondiwindi-based auctioneer organising the sale of a cattleman’s Moonie River licence on 27 April predicted it could fetch up to $2 million. In return, the new owner will be entitled to take up to 2200 megalitres, although the river’s performance suggests the annual average will be about 1100Ml.

Comparable licence for Macintyre worth $4 million: Auctioneer Clayton Smith said a 2200Ml licence on the Macintyre Brook, also in the border rivers system, was worth $4 million. Water Minister Henry Palaszczuk said the state had more than 7500 tradeable water allocations, with an estimated total value of more than $1.5 billion.

The Courier Mail, 28/4/2006, p. 22

Source: Erisk Net  

Crude oil drives increase: Crude oil drove the increase. The index for mineral fuels was up 7.3 per cent over the quarter, and a whopping 53.9 per cent for the past 12 months. But it’s not just imported oil that is getting more expensive.

Animal, vegetable oil prices rise 22.9pc during year: During the March quarter, there were also increases for animal and vegetable oils (up 6.3 per cent for the quarter and 22.9 per cent for the year), manufactured goods by material (tip 2.2 per cent for the quarter) and miscellaneous manufactured articles (up 2.2 per cent).

Commodities up 37.5pc: Over the full year, apart from mineral fuels, there have been big increases in commodities and transactions (37.5 per cent) and crude materials (9.1 per cent).

Good news for exporters: The news is good for exporters with the index up 5.1 per cent during the quarter and 22.9 per cent over the past 12 months.

The Canberra Times, 22/4/2006, p. 23

Source: Erisk Net