WaterNSW warns: Sydney's water supply is at risk from the Dendrobium expansion. Despite massive environmental damage already caused by the coal mine to the wetlands and waterscapes around Sydney, the Independent Planning Commission has now approved the expansion project. Up to 38 million litres a day could be lost as a result. The decision is due by 08 February.
International Press Articles
The steady trend towards increasingly unprofitable coal and more renewables can also be seen in New South Wales. Australia's expansion plans are driving storage projects. The two largest energy storage facilities in the country are being considered at or near former power plants and could provide dispatchable capacity for the ever decreasing coal-fired power in the future. Read more here.
The interesting combination of oyster farming and offshore solar panel energy generation could be another step towards sustainable aquaculture. Baltimore companies are working on appropriate barges for the Chesapeake Bay. All the benefits of solar-powered platforms for an oyster farm are described in the Washington Post.
Unlike the financial crisis, bubbles from renewable energy valuations that are far too high can be useful. Greg Ip describes why the enormous profitability of green funds can contribute to the energy transition itself.
So far, the continent has not been able to agree on a reduction of carbon emissions by 2050. Under European pressure, however, the coal-fired country is slowly buckling. Read more by Daniel Hurst and Graham Readfearn in the Guardian.