The Sustainable Regions forum in Murwillumbah last Friday evening brought together local farmers with renewable energy pioneers and government agencies to outline practical solutions for farming in the face of water shortages, rising oil prices and the globalisation of agribusiness. Among messages emerging from the forum was the fact that most speakers, including the Nationals Sue Page, feel that the globalisation of the economy is damaging regional economies as well as the environment. Consumers have a key role in influencing this by seeking out local product. The home garden was identified as an important factor in a sustainable future, along with community gardens and farmers markets.
Author: admin
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Molasses rises 50% as alternative fuel
According to Shan Goodwin, molasses, sold directly from the three sugar mills on the North Coast, now cost $42 for a 44-gallon drum, well up from the season’s opening price of $30, reported The Land, (27/9/2007, p.27).
Molasses as stock feed: The NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative sells 90pc of its molasses to industrial users, stockfeed manufacturers and agricultural supply stores and the rest direct to local cattle producers. Brandon Molasses, based in Erskineville, Sydney, which resells about 1400 tonnes of molasses a year and is getting all its supply from North Queensland.
$260 a tonne to land it in Sydney: General manager, Jack Brightwell, said it was costing the company $260 a tonne to land it in Sydney, which was double the cost of this time last year.
Molasses gap: Manufacturers of the molasses-based liquid supplement Anipro, Queensland-based Performance Feeds, was left with no molasses for a short period this winter. However, general manager Bill James, Toowoomba, said the 5000 to 8000 tonnes of Anipro sold in NSW each year was never at risk owing to stored product. The company gets all its molasses from North Queensland but increased demand from NSW and Victorian contractors, combined with unprecedented rain that had affected the northern cane crush last year, had hit Queensland supplies as well.
The Land, 27/9/2007, p. 27
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Indonesia plans to generate nuclear energy with Aussie Uranium
According to Karen Michelmore, "We have to make a decision this year, so that a start can be made early next year," Indonesia’s Research and Technology Minister Kusmayanto Kadiman told Indonesia’s Tempo magazine this month, reported The Canberra Times (29/9/2007, p. B2).
Nuclear energy essential for Indonesia’s development: The government is looking at building up to four nuclear power stations on the Mt Muria peninsula site, generating between 4000 and 6000 megawatts of much-needed low-cost electricity by 2016. Nuclear energy is seen as essential for the country’s development, with an extra 1500 to 2000 megawatts of power expected to be needed from 2016.
Sources for power generation are limited: "The places that most need electrical power are Java, Madura and Bali. Sources for power generation on this island are limited," Kusmayanto said. "Oil and coal are found in Sumatra and Kalimantan [but] if power stations were built in those areas, the distribution would be costly. The alternative was to build a nuclear power plant. where those costs wouldn’t be an issue." He said the Mt Muria site was considered the safest of 13 to 14 potential sites surveyed by the government.
Australia committed to peaceful nuclear cooperation with Indonesia: Kusmayanto told the magazine the government was waiting "for the presidential decree" that would order the formation of a team to take the project forward. In August, Indonesia said it would expect to buy uranium from Australia if its nuclear energy plans go ahead. And under the Lombok Treaty, signed last year, Australia committed to peaceful nuclear cooperation with Indonesia, which is also a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
The Canberra Times, 29/9/2007, p. B2
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Indoensia to plant 79 million trees in a day
Indonesia currently holds a far less flattering world record: according to Greenpeace, it had the fastest pace of deforestation in the world between 2000-2005, with an area of forest equivalent to 300 soccer pitches destroyed every hour.
Southeast Asia’s biggest economy is also among the world’s top three greenhouse gas emitters because of deforestation, peatland degradation, and forest fires, according to a recent report sponsored by the World Bank and Britain’s development arm.
Environmental groups are concerned that rapidly expanding palm oil plantations, partly driven by ambitious plans for biofuels, are damaging the country’s rainforests.
Participants from 189 countries are expected to gather in Bali in December to discuss a new deal to fight global warming. The existing pact, the Kyoto Protocol, runs out in 2012.
Under Kyoto, about 35 rich nations are obliged to cut emissions by 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12.
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Largest solar panel rollout in US begun
California PUC President Peevey said, “This marks another milestone in meeting California’s commitment to lead the nation in producing and using clean renewable energy. Solar is an important part of California’s goals in doing what is right for our businesses, citizens and the environment. I commend Kohl’s for its leadership.”
Once completed, Kohl’s use of solar power will generate more than 35 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy annually, the equivalent of powering an estimated 3,087 California homes. Additionally, in the first full year of operation, Kohl’s clean energy output will offset more than 28 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas directly linked to global climate change. Over the span of 20 years, Kohl’s solar deployment will prevent in excess of 515 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
“Today’s activation marks a significant milestone for Kohl’s. Through our solar introduction, we’re further extending our commitment to green power and making a significant contribution to California’s renewable energy goals,” said Ken Bonning, Kohl’s executive vice president of logistics.
Kohl’s rooftop solar photovoltaic systems are being built under an agreement with SunEdison, North America’s largest solar energy services provider. Under the agreement, SunEdison manages the rooftop solar energy systems in exchange for Kohl’s commitment to purchase energy from SunEdison. In total, more than 138,000 solar panels are expected to be used when Kohl’s solar installations are complete in 2008.
“Kohl’s has chosen to use renewable energy to demonstrate environmental stewardship and contribute to a healthier environment in the communities in which they operate. We applaud Kohl’s leadership in finding a financially viable solution to deploying clean solar energy in a meaningful way,” said SunEdison CEO Tom Rainwater.
In July, Kohl’s was ranked No. 8 on EPA’s National Top 25 list – up from its No. 24 ranking in April 2007 – as well as rising to No. 2 on EPA’s Top 10 Retail list – up from No. 5 in April 2007. These lists highlight EPA Green Power Partners(a) that have completed the largest annual voluntary green power purchases through July 9, 2007. The EPA updates its Top Partner lists quarterly, which are available at http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/partners/top25.htm.
Kohl’s is also participating in EPA’s Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge(b) and currently ranks No. 6 among participating Fortune 500 partners. The goal of this campaign is roughly to double the existing green power purchases among Fortune 500 Green Power Partners to exceed 5 billion kWh of collective green power purchasing annually.
According to the EPA, solar power is one of many green sources of power which also include wind, geothermal and biogas. These sources of power are partially or entirely generated from clean resources and are considered cleaner than conventional sources of electricity in part because of lower carbon dioxide emissions.
ABOUT KOHL’s
Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. A company committed to the communities it serves; Kohl’s operates 834 stores in 46 states and has raised more than $85 million for children’s initiatives nationwide through its Kohl’s Cares for Kids® philanthropic program. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.kohls.com.
ABOUT SUNEDISON
Sun Edison LLC is North America’s largest solar energy services provider. SunEdison provides solar-generated energy at or below current retail utility rates to a broad and diverse client base of commercial, municipal and utility customers. For more information about SunEdison, please visit www.sunedison.com. The company headquarters is located in Beltsville, Md.
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Pulp Mill costs NSW taxpayers $3.5m
Wendy Frew Environment Reporter – Sydney Morning HeraldNSW taxpayers are subsidising a Japanese woodchip mill on the South Coast to the tune of $3.5 million a year because the State Government is selling native timber to the mill too cheaply, industry experts say.
At a time when there are fears native forest logging is fuelling climate change, the Government is selling native timber from South Coast forests for between $6.90 and $16 a tonne to an Eden woodchip mill owned by Japan’s South East Fibre Exports.
The Government says the operations "pay their own way" but environmentalists and forestry analysts believe it is under pressure from unions and Forests NSW to maintain industry jobs.
"It is actually costing the Government money to run this operation … but the CFMEU gives a lot of money to the Labor Party," said an anti-logging campaigner, Harriet Swift. "The bureaucracy of Forests NSW is very good at looking after itself, too."
The native timber prices for the 2003-04 year were so low they did not cover Forests NSW’s own costs, leading to windfall profits for the mill, said a forestry analyst, Terry Digwood. The figures were revealed following a freedom of information application to Forests NSW.
The Government made a loss of $3.5 million in 2005-06 supplying native pulp logs to the mill, analysis done by Mr Digwood showed.