Browsing: Renewables, low emissions

The Gillard Government will review mechanisms for supporting large-scale solar projects, as well as restoring $100 million to the Solar Flagships scheme, in exchange for Greens support for its flood levy.

• WA EPA recommends minister reject second mine
  
• Study finds no cancer link to Victorian hazardous waste landfill
  
• BP Solar releases EIS for $600 million, 150MW PV plant
  
• Climate department issues updated budget estimates

• Qantas signs agreement on algal jet fuel
  
• House passes private member's EPBC bill, another in the wings
  
• Garnaut reassesses emissions projections

Victoria has warned the Federal Government that 'onerous or unrealistic' standards could stifle the development of low-emissions brown coal-fired power plants, while AGL and Origin argue tighter standards could render unnecessary any 'CCS-ready' obligation.

Even allowing for growth in energy-intensive industries, Australia could generate 100% of its power from renewables by 2050 – and a carbon price would substantially lower the cost, says a Climate Risk report for WWF.

The NSW Government will raid a $700 million fund that provides companies and communities with energy and water grants as it looks for ways to staunch a massive blowout in the cost of its household PV subsidy scheme.

• Court grants interim injunction against 'foolhardy' farmer
  
• GetUp launches campaign for Climate Disaster Fund
  
• NSW deems more wastes suitable for re-use

The company running a pilot underground coal gasification project near Kingaroy is considering a legal challenge to a Queensland Government plan that would require it to decommission and rehabilitate the site.

In a development with important lessons on managing relationships with regulators, the Queensland Government won't allow Cougar Energy to restart its underground coal gasification trial, after receiving an independent scientific report that unfavourably contrasts the company's risk management approaches with those of another UCG business.

Modelling shows the Gillard Government's proposed power station CO2 emission standard could imperil efforts to cut emissions unless they are tightened, according to WWF and the Climate Institute, but the ESAA says standards represent an "unnecessary market intervention".