News in this week is that Goldwind are going ahead with constructing a 75-turbine, 175 megawatt wind farm at White Rock near Glen Innes in northern NSW. This will be the northernmost large wind farm in Australia (there are no more windfarms until you get to Windy Hill, a 12MW wind farm near Innisfail in north Queensland).

MEDIA RELEASE: Alcoa coal closure respects community’s vision. Renewable energy plan needed to create new jobs

The town of Morwell shrouded by toxic coal ash and

smoke during the 2014 Hazelwood mine fire.

Bob Massie is the outgoing President and CEO of the New Economy Coalition, whose mission is to support a just transition to a new economy that enables both thriving communities and ecological health. He has degrees from Princeton and Yale and a doctorate in business policy from Harvard University. In 2011, he was a candidate for the US Senate. He was the keynote speaker in a recent Australian tour organised by 350.org Australia and Earthworker Cooperative – “Just Transitions” – discussing the development of new economies that better support people and the planet. Massie advocates for the transition to a clean energy economy to include people currently working in the fossil fuel industry.

Corporate giants like Apple, have been heavily investing in renewable energy projects. This is now not only seen to be a financially sound move, but a major public relations activity. 

Three wind farm’s will supply the ACT with 200 megawatts of renewable energy generation capacity, with a reduction of 580,000 tonnes of emissions each year. This is a serious emissions reduction effort from the ACT Government with broader economic benefits. 

The concept of a 100% renewable towns may have seemed farfetched in the past, but stories from many countries are starting to surface proving that such a target is possible. In Burlington VT, electricity supply comes from all renewable sources.

The 2015 Super Bowl host stadium will be powered by 100% wind energy, and is not the only stadium in the US making an example of utilising renewables. A number of sports stadiums in Australia could also utilise the technology and demonstrate a commitment to clean energy supply.

Originally a letter published in the Sentinel Times. It can be found here.