Gillard flags changes to water efficiency, ozone legislation
Combet urges Coalition to join climate committee, Garnaut backs new process
Melbourne City Council gains green financing powers
Commonwealth Bank teams with Lend Lease Solar
City of Sydney launches $12.3 million solar PV roll-out
The City of Sydney has announced a $12.3 million plan to install more than 2,000 kilowatts of photovoltaic panels on at least 30 of its properties over the next five years.
The project will cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 3,000 tonnes a year, and reduce the City's annual power bills by $500,000, according to Allan Jones, the council's chief development officer for energy and climate change.
Council-owned buildings that have been identified as possible sites for solar panels include Town Hall House, Redfern Oval grandstand, Railway Square Bus Interchange, and various other town halls and aquatic centres.
The City is calling for expressions of interest to supply and install photovoltaic panels, from which a shortlist of companies will be selected to tender for a final contract, to be awarded in April next year.
The funding for the project comes from the City's new Renewable Energy Fund, created from the $2 million the City had previously spent each year on buying green power.
Works begin on Upper Hunter pollution monitoring stations
The NSW Government has started construction of air quality monitoring stations in the state's Upper Hunter region, amid continuing concerns over the possible health risks associated with mining and power-generating activity in the area.
NSW environment minister Frank Sartor said the first two stations at Singleton and Muswellbrook will be fully operational by December.
Once the 14-station monitoring network is completed by the end of 2011, he said residents will be able to access real-time air quality data on the environment department website, including hourly averages, 24-hours a day.
Green Rock Energy awarded $7 million geothermal grant
A subsidiary of Western Australian company Green Rock Energy has been awarded a $7 million funding agreement under the Federal Government's Geothermal Drilling Program.
The company plans to drill two wells at the University of WA's Crawley Campus to test the system water flow to prove that commercial quantities of geothermal energy can be delivered from depths of about 3,000 metres.
The company said the first well will be drilled within the first half of 2011 if it is successful in securing additional funds from the WA Government and joint venture partners later this year.
Victoria hosting pump energy efficiency event
An upcoming seminar in Melbourne will examine methods and strategies for the reduction in energy consumed by pumping systems.
Hosted by Pump Industry Australia and Sustainability Victoria, the October 7 event will canvass how to achieve the best pump efficiency, system efficiency and drive efficiency, as well as site performance measurement and corrective action strategies.
