preserving the balance of nature
RenewEconomy Widget
Global-Roam appreciate the opportunity to provide visibility of the National Energy Market (NEM) and the Western Australian South West Interconnected System (SWIS) via the 'Live Supply & Demand' NEMwatch widget shown below, sponsored by RenewEconomy. Global-Roam's WattClarity® site provides an explanation of several aspects about the widget (including the data it's conveying).
CURF Annual Forum - Andrew Blakers keynote
Professor Andrew Blakers ANU, presented at this hearing and he provided evidence that it is achievable now to have 100% renewables with supporting back up power, no blackouts, without any emissions, loss of habitat or minute compared to open cut coal mining/longwall mining, no loss of surface water, no contamination of our waterways, no emissions, no toxic ash repositories etc, habitats stay in tack.
Equally he states we could actually supply overseas with electricity as well. This is the game changer and he delivers it beautifully to the committee. His delivery of comments starts on page 54 of this transcript. My eyes where glued for the entire time of his presentation to the committee. Yours will be too.
Renewable Energy Links
Blue Mountains Renewable Energy Co-Op - A volunteer group of Blue Mountains people working together to create community-owned renewable energy projects their unique World Heritage area.
Cities Power Partnership - The Cities Power Partnership is a free national program that exists to celebrate and accelerate the emission reduction and clean energy successes of Australian towns and cities. It’s a coalition of the willing – made up of mayors, councillors and communities who are committed to a sustainable, non-polluting energy future.
CORENA is a not-for-profit group with nation-wide membership. It was incorporated on April 22, 2013, under the name Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia Incorporated.
Renewable energy research
Useful sources of information and research on renewable energy in New South Wales for communities and industry.
Review of the Impact of Wind Farms on Property Values (PDF 2.8MB)An investigation into the potential impact of wind farm developments on property prices in NSW. This study follows on from the 2009 NSW Valuer-General’s assessment of the impact of wind farms on property values.
Community Attitudes to Renewable Energy in NSW
this report presents the results of a survey conducted in 2014 on community awareness, knowledge and attitudes to renewable energy technologies across NSW.
Community-owned renewable energy: a how to guide (PDF 3.3MB)
A guide to starting a community-owned renewable energy project.
NCC Renewable Energy Report
Our biggest contribution to climate change is how we power our lives and communities. Today 77% of our power comes from coal. But we can change that. This report details that we can #Repower our state with 100% clean energy by 2030. See the findings for yourself. It's 100% doable.
Lithgow Community Power Project
We recognise the power of an organised community to shape its future and prosperity, for instance through joint action to reduce transport and energy bills, or through collective purchasing of new technology, or community support for diversification of the local economy.
The Project’s goal is to enhance the living standards and financial well-being of households in the Lithgow region by changing how we use transport and energy technologies to preserve the resources of the local area.
We will support and implement programs that foster economic growth and diversification, through community power and collaboration with government, industry and science.
Energy Hub
Lithgow is a Transition Town. The decline of coal fired power generation and coal mining is happening and our economy here in Lithgow is exposed to this decline more than other, less coal dependent places. Despite calls for more of the same we have little influence in this decline. Not even our board rooms in Bangkok, Seoul or Hong Kong have much influence on what is happening but their decisions will be guided by the biggest profit option – and that will not be coal anymore.
The transition to something new will not happen tomorrow but it will happen. Transitions come with upheaval and we better prepare for it. Lithgow has a great tradition of surviving transitions: 630 jobs were lost when Hoskins’ steel furnaces shut down, 12,000 (!) people were once employed at the Small Arms Factory…Lithgow didn’t survive these transitions by calling for more of the same but by getting on with something new. Nothing is as permanent as change – let’s prepare for it, fair and sustainable.
Check out our blog page for updates, or contact us for more information.
We need your help!
UPDATE 29/06/2018: LEG has completed its fundraising efforts for Hoskins Uniting Church.
Lithgow Environment Group would like to thank all of those who have donated to this project so far. Without your donations, the project wouldn't have achieved what we've reached. The total target has not yet been achieved. The Hoskins Uniting Church will continue on fundraising until they reach the target of $14,571, to add to the $10,856 raised by Lithgow Environment Group.
If you would like to donate to the Hoskins Uniting Church Roof-Top Solar Project, you may do so to the church directly by emailing us.
LEG Energy Hub's first charitable fund raising project has now launched! Our first campaign will raise money to provide Lithgow's Hoskin's Uniting Church with a roof-top solar system, providing them with free and clean energy they can use to conduct their activities.
The Uniting Church has programs that serve young families, elderly and those with a disability, amongst others. Hoskins Memorial Uniting Church Activity Building is the hub of all their social programs. It allows them to provide an area for a diverse range of groups and organisations to have a place to meet. Rising energy costs have reduced their opportunities and they want to do more for their community. Many of the vulnerable they serve use their centre as a save haven. It is their hope that they could better provide a cool space in summer, as well as a warm one in our long, cold winters. By raising those funds and reducing our energy costs, we can continue and expand to meet our community needs.
We need your help with reaching our target. Can you help us get there?
We would appreciate it so much if you could share far and wide.
Cheers
Julie Favell
Lithgow Environment Group Energy Hub
The Wallerawang 9 Battery
"Greenspot was established in 2020 as a joint venture between the owners of Borg and Bettergrow, two leading Australian owned businesses headquartered in New South Wales.
We completed the acquisition of the Old Wallerawang Power Station (WPS) and buffer lands, comprising approximately 450 hectares, from EnergyAustralia in September 2020. Our vision is to repurpose the WPS site and in doing so attract a range of businesses, serving to generate economic activity and employment growth in the local community and more broadly in the NSW Central-West region.
As an important component of our vision for the Greenspot 2845 Activity Hub, we have commenced the planning approvals process, seeking development consent for the construction, operation and maintenance of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) of 500 MW capacity that would provide 1,000 MWh of energy storage."
Read moreThe Great Western Battery (Wallerawang) from Neoen
The Great Western Battery is a proposed 500MW stand-alone battery in NSW.
The name was chosen due to the project’s proximity to the Great Western Highway, one of Australia’s earliest inland roads.
The battery will be able to provide a variety of services to the grid including frequency control and load shifting, which are both necessary for the development of more renewable energy.
Read More 