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Renew Australia for All campaign achievements

VTHC and Environment Victoria has spent 6 months organising in Melbourne's East for the Renew Australia for All campaign. Hundreds of volunteers spent months talking to locals about the Energy Bills Savings Plan, and campaigned hard with a clear message: 'Solar Saves, Nuclear Costs'. 

Last month, campaign volunteers had a BBQ in Holmesglen to celebrate their achievements across Deakin, Menzies and Chisholm. 

VTHC will continue to work on the next phase of the Renew Australia for All campaign. Watch out for our next bulletin to find out more and get involved. 

Golden Plains Wind Farm workers strike

Crane operators at the Golden Plains Wind Farm are taking industrial action. CFMEU members are fighting for decent wages and parity with crane crews operating in metropolitan Melbourne.

Last year, a subcontractor was killed at the wind farm when he was crushed by a turbine blade.

Energy Australia admits to greenwashing

Electricity and gas retailer Energy Australia has acknowledged that carbon offsets do not prevent or undo damage caused by greenhouse gas emissions and apologised for allegedly misleading 400,000 customers through its 'go neutral' carbon offset program. 

The company acknowledged that carbon offsetting was 'not the most effective way to assist customers to reduce their emissions' and apologised to 'any customer who felt that the way it marketed its go neutral products was unclear'.

The case could set a precedent for how companies are held accountable for their environmental claims, particularly those involving carbon offsets.

SEC to power Victoria 

From the first of July, the SEC will supply electricity to Victorian customers for the first time in nearly 30 years. Retail contracts will soon be signed with schools, hospitals and other Victorian Government operations with 100% renewable electricity.

The SEC will also offer wholesale and retail power purchase agreements to Victorian businesses linked to local renewable energy projects.

What now for nuclear?

Following a decimation of the parliamentary Liberal Party last month, their nuclear power delusions have a half-life. 

As part of the new Coalition agreement, the Liberal Party has agreed to the Nationals' demands to commit to lifting the federal moratorium on nuclear power. 

From Jenny Hocking's New Daily article:

'The Nationals’ demand that the Coalition again support a policy of untested and impossibly costly nuclear energy is, for the urban-based Liberal Party desperately in need of renewal, a vapid form of political suicide.

That the Liberal Party could even be contemplating retaining it is an indication of just how far removed it is from contemporary Australian political reality.'

Climate change drives up grocery prices

A report published by Farmers for Climate Action (FCA) has found that changes to the cost of farmgate production caused by climate events have a direct impact on wholesale and retail pricing of groceries.

These findings build on a previous report published by FCA which found Australia's food supply chains are highly vulnerable to weather extremes when compounding with other global events.

Climate-driven events are exacerbating trade disruptions, pandemics and geopolitical tensions to destabilise grocery prices in Australia and elsewhere.

Adaptation and mitigation strategies will be required to limit price increases at the supermarket checkout.

Embodied carbon in new builds

The emissions created by materials and construction of a typical Australian home amounts to more than 7 times the emissions released over the total lifespan of the house, a new study has found.

• setting national carbon standards to reduce emissions by 20% on 2020 levels by 2031
• improving and maintaining data and disclosure tools
• supporting innovation for low-carbon and recyclable building materials
• planning mechanisms to encourage higher density, smaller and simpler homes

Aussie-made electric ships

Tasmanian ship builder Incat has launched the world's largest fully electric ship of its kind.

The vessel, named Hull 096, measures 130 metres long and will have a capacity of 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles. The shipbuilder has flagged the potential for more progress, as lighter vessels and technological advances would mean electric ships could travel further and charge faster.

Driven by battery-electric power, the ferry will be towed to South America to operate between Montevideo, two other Uruguayan towns and Buenos Aires.

Urban Renewable Energy Zone

The NSW Government has announced plans to develop Australia's first urban renewable energy zone (REZ) in the Illawarra region. Unlike the state's four other major renewable zones, which feature large-scale wind and solar projects, the Illawarra REZ will be based around rooftop solar, home batteries, and electric vehicles.

The proposal follows last year's announcement of Australia's first community-led electrification project, Electrify 2515. The project aims to fully electrify 500 homes in the north Illawarra region through $5.4 million worth of government subsidies.

Green Iron report

The Superpower Institute has published a report that finds that  Australia could become a world leader in green iron production. 

The report finds that the industry may generate up to AUD $386 billion a year by 2060. It could also cut global emissions by about 4% by replacing iron made using traditional methods with green iron.