Road to Renewables

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© 2024 The Illawarra Flame

Road to Renewables

Road to Renewables

How you can help Hi Neighbour

In April, Bulli actor Yael Stone will be celebrating the first birthday of her not-for-profit Hi Neighbour. In year two, the charity with the friendliest name and the smartest circular model in the energy transition is calling for support via a new...

Genevieve Swart

Road to Renewables

Free fuel – thank you, Sun

Part 5 in Peter Aubourg’s Diary of an EV Driver I finally bought a charger that will lap up my excess solar power. This power would otherwise be exported back to the grid for a paltry sum. My wife said that I am determined to get free fuel for the...

Road to Renewables

How a coal miner became a renewable jobs advocate

Darryl Best was born in Lithgow in the Blue Mountains, where coal has been mined since 1868. “I worked all my career in coal mines,” he says. “I started as an apprentice electrician at Kerosene Vale Coal Mine out near Lithgow in 1975.”

Genevieve Swart

Road to Renewables

Work begins on $10m Energy Futures Skills Centre at UOW

The first in our 3-part series looking at the clean energy jobs of the future with UOW’s Energy Futures Network Director, Ty Christopher. The University of Wollongong is gearing up to train the clean energy workforce of the future, with...

Genevieve Swart

Road to Renewables

Where the work is: Watch the rise of clean energy jobs in Australia

The third in our clean energy series looks at how jobs have taken off and where the work lies Just over three years ago, in response to the twin crises of the Black Summer bushfires and COVID-19, the Climate Council published its Clean Jobs Plan to...

Genevieve Swart

Road to Renewables

Electrify 2515 shares Janine’s electric journey

Bulli resident Janine Bailey knew she couldn’t afford her goal to electrify her home and transport overnight. She made a rough five-year plan and aimed to achieve it as her budget afforded. Janine is the happy winner of an EV charger donated by AG...

Road to Renewables

Engineer yourself a future

The second in our 3-part series looking at the clean energy jobs of the future with UOW’s Energy Futures Network Director, Ty Christopher. If the Illawarra embraces clean energy, the jobs outlook is bright, says the University of Wollongong’s...

Genevieve Swart

Road to Renewables

Diary of an EV Driver: Charging On

There’s been great excitement in the local EV world lately. Public EV chargers have been installed in a few places around the district. I had to give one a go! Ever since I bought the MG4, I have only ever charged it at home from a power point...

Road to Renewables

Scientists survey Yes2Renewables crowd at Wollongong fun day

The Australian Government wants 82 per cent renewable electricity by 2030. But what do local people want on the pathway to that target? A University of Wollongong (UOW) survey of about 70 people at last Sunday’s Yes2Renewables family fun day found...

Genevieve Swart

Road to Renewables

Get the scoop on Wollongong’s Yes2Renewables family fun day

If success could be measured in ice-cream, then Sunday’s Yes2Renewables event hit the spot. Organisers of the family fun day at Wollongong’s Osborne Park had promised free ice-cream for kids and this proved a powerful attraction as the temperature...

Genevieve Swart

Road to Renewables

Offshore wind update: public events planned

Both sides of the offshore wind farm debate have been promoting events for the public this year. This follows 2023’s big offshore wind protest, when more than 1000 people attended the Coalition Against Offshore Wind (CAOW) rally at Flagstaff Hill...

Genevieve Swart

Road to Renewables

Get the numbers on nuclear energy

After 22 governments endorsed a nuclear declaration at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), Helensburgh reader Rod Gruggen wrote to the Flame with a common question: “So many countries are already going nuclear. Why not Australia?”

Genevieve Swart

Road to Renewables

It is time to draw down carbon dioxide but shut down moves to play God with the climate

Drawdown, by contrast, involves withdrawing CO² from the atmosphere and storing it in other planetary organs, such as rocks, oceans or plants. Drawdown is much longer term than geoengineering, and most initiatives are only in the research and...

The Conversation

Road to Renewables

Electrify everything: A good New Year’s Resolution for your home

By Denise Aubourg of Electrify 2515 You know Murphy’s Law tells us your hot water system will conk out in the middle of winter when your kids are standing naked and screaming and your house guests are about to arrive. When you make the urgent...

Motoring & Property

Diary of an EV Driver: Accelerating out of the ICE age

I have really been getting into the things that are different about EVs. The big one is acceleration. Our MG4 has fantastic acceleration from the moment you push on the accelerator and there are no gear changes. It has maximum torque right from the...

Kerbside chargers line road to a net zero Wollongong

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said the chargers are part of Council’s work to empower the community toward net zero emissions by 2050, as part of the newly adopted Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2023-30

Wollongong City Council

Motoring & Property

Diary of an EV Driver: 1 month in

I have now had my EV for a month. I just slip into the driver’s seat with the ease of putting on a well-worn pair of shoes. I comfortably know where most of the controls live, which makes life easier. And the comfort extends to driving, with...

Road to Renewables

Tomorrow Movement sends message via windmill origami

Taking climate action in a heat wave is a gamble. On one hand, an extreme weather warning may support your message; on the other, no one may turn up. “The streets were very quiet,” said Thirroul activist Luke Gelder, a member of the Tomorrow...

Genevieve Swart

Road to Renewables

Electrify 2515 shares EV and E-bike offers

Thank you to everyone who came out to November 12’s EV & E-bike Open Day. About 450 people turned up, which was so encouraging. As announced at the event, we have secured special offers for all Illawarra locals. Here’s a brief list: • Win...

Kristen McDonald

Road to Renewables

Ask a researcher: Why did UOW start the Blue Energy Futures Lab?

“We’re passionate about being that independent voice in the community and about informing the debate,” Michelle says. “There’s lots of things happening out there that you can’t see in the ocean. I get concerned when I hear from people talking about the oceans as pristine – they’re not pristine, they’re in a lot of trouble.”

Genevieve Swart

Road to Renewables

What’s next for offshore wind groups?

With the Illawarra’s offshore renewables zone consultation ending on November 15 and a decision from the government not expected until next year, two Facebook group founders told us what’s next for their communities. Incorporated Good for the...

Genevieve Swart

Road to Renewables

What’s next for CAOW?

The federal government’s consultation period closed on November 15, but the private Facebook group has 2400 members and remains active, with more than 700 posts in the past month. So, what’s next for CAOW?

Genevieve Swart

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