The Australian - AGL Energy sells windfarm for $59 million

AGL Energy has sold its Hallet 2 wind farm, which is under construction in South Australia, to Energy Infrastructure Trust (EIT) for $59 million.

EIT is managed by ANZ offshoot ANZ Infrastructure Services.

NZ Herald - Tui oil sparks profit surge at NZOG - $97.2m for the year

New Zealand Oil & Gas has posted a surge in full year net profit to $97.2 million on the back of production from the Tui oilfields off the Taranaki coast.

"This outstanding result was built on a combination of high oil prices and higher than expected production from Tui," NZOG said today.

The Australian - Flawed energy policy shows O'Farrell up

NSW Liberal Party leader Barry O'Farrell's decision to block planned energy privatisation has handed more negotiating power to NSW trade unions, threatened the state's fragile economy and cast serious doubt on his own ability to govern.

In short, it is a case of politics for politics' sake at its very worst.

The Australian - Origin Energy swears by coal gas as net rises 13pc

AS shareholders wait for Origin Energy to select a partner to develop its Queensland coal seam gas reserves, the takeover target yesterday boosted full-year net profit by 13 per cent to a record $517 million on a strong performance from its retail business.

NZ Herald - Stock takes: Air New Zealand salaries in tailspin

There's only so much an airline can do about the price of jet fuel but Fyfe says it's only fair that as the business performance goes down, so does pay.

Waikato Times - Dismay at wind farm move

Councils are opposed to Government plans to fast-track Contact Energy's application to build a gigantic $1 billion wind farm along the isolated Te Akau coast.

Environment Minister Trevor Mallard this week announced his intention to "call in" the 180turbine Hauauru ma Raki wind farm planned for construction between Te Akau and Port Waikato.

In deeming the project to be of national significance, Mr Mallard has used his ministerial intervention powers to direct that the resource consent process be referred to a board of inquiry, rather than be heard by Environment Waikato, Waikato District Council, and Franklin District Council.

Scoop.co.nz - Big electricity savings

Christchurch City Council is on track for huge electricity savings this year thanks to both human and mechanical initiatives at its Civic Offices in Tuam Street.

Council energy analyst Yvonne Gilmore says savings of about $25,000 a year were already being made at the Civic Offices thanks to the efforts of the Council's Energy Team.

"By the end of this winter this is set to rise by potentially another $15,000 over and above existing savings. This is an amazing achievement."

The Australian - NZ Oil & Gas forecast strong outlook

NEW Zealand Oil and Gas has recorded a sharp jump in annual profit, boosted by production at the Tui oil field and record oil prices.

The New Zealand-based gas and oil exploration company (ASX: NZO) said net profit for the full year to June 30 was $NZ97.2 million ($79.2 million), up from $NZ6.8 million a year earlier.

Daily Telegraph - Sydney transport a rail embarrassment

HERE'S proof that Sydney's rail network is a laughing stock when compared with its global peers.

Experts have compared Sydney's public transport infrastructure with major cities including New York, Paris and Barcelona - and the embarrassing results speak for themselves.

The special report, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, reveals the international cities have as much as eight times the length of track that Sydney does.

The Age - Market-based scheme key to carbon crisis

But implementing such an approach faces a built-in handicap from day one.

THERE is no such thing as a pure market. In the debate over the best way to tackle climate change there seems to be universal agreement that market-based measures, such as emissions trading, are the preferred option of Australian industry.

Market-based mechanisms are seen as the most efficient way to solve our escalating emissions problem, with all other approaches described as distortions of an otherwise perfectly functioning, unencumbered market.

Otago Daily Times - Dunedin turns to public transport

More Dunedin commuters are shunning cars in favour of buses as rising fuel prices bite.

Bus patronage has risen dramatically and the number of cars on the road has dropped as Dunedin workers mirror a national trend and leave their cars at home.

However, locals may be leaving their northern counterparts in the dust.

A-Z o Build - Turnkey Solution for Solar Power From Solar Manufacturer Day4 Energy

Day4 Energy Inc., a leading manufacturer of high performance, cost-effective solar electric modules, today announced the strategic partnership with CERTUS Life Cycle AG (CLC) to finance photovoltaic (PV) power generation projects in Europe with a specific focus on the expanding Italian market. Under the arrangement Day4 Energy will leverage its industry leading solar module technology and extensive network of system integration partners to develop turnkey PV power generation projects commissioned and funded by CLC.

The Australian - Transport sector airs concerns on carbon

DOMESTIC tourism and Australian airlines would be hard hit as more Australians chose to fly overseas on foreign carriers for their holidays rather than pay domestic airfares inflated by the impact of the Government's proposed emissions trading regime.

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese heard these concerns at a special meeting with the transport industry yesterday, where the aviation, shipping and railway sectors complained that the Government's scheme would put them at a competitive disadvantage.