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.

ABC - Water woes hit town's tourism, economy

It is feared that the north-west Queensland town of Cloncurry will soon run out of water, thanks to dry weather and a resources-driven population boom. The available water is said to be so harsh it could strip the paint from a car.

SMH - Grounded: high fuel prices brings Diddy down to earth

Fuel prices have grounded an unexpected frequent-flyer: US hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. Combs complained about the "too high" price of fuel and pleaded for free oil from his "Saudi Arabia brothers and sisters" in a YouTube video posted on Wednesday. The hip-hop mogul said he is now flying on commercial airlines instead of in private jets, which Combs said had previously cost him $US200,000 ($A232,000) and up for a round trip between New York and Los Angeles - a little over the distance from Perth to Sydney.

frogblog - $1 billion of warm homes

ABC - BCC to consider extending solar hot water system rebate

Brisbane residents can apply for the City Council's solar hot water system rebate from today. The $400 offer will be available to the first 1,500 households that purchase a new solar hot water system or convert their existing system to solar energy. It is not means-tested and can be claimed on top of the Federal Government's existing $1,000 solar rebate.

ABC - SA recycling refund set to increase to 10 cents

Red, Green and Blue - Australia, Iceland, and U.S. Partner for Advancement of Geothermal Technology

Australia, the United States and Iceland have signed the charter of the International Partnership for Geothermal Technology, designed to facilitate shared knowledge and build strategic partnerships for the development of geothermal energy. The framework brings international collaboration on the diffusion of policy and the technical aspects of advanced geothermal systems (EGS) such as deep drilling and geothermal energy conversion. “Enhanced geothermal systems have the potential to be the world’s only ever-present form of baseload renewable energy,” said Deparment of Energy Acting Assistant Secretary Katharine Fredriksen.

The Australian - Queensland Gas Co posts big half-year profit

QUEENSLAND Gas Co has turned in its first full-year profit, booking a big gain on the sale of 20 per cent of its coal seam methane ground to British gas giant BG Group. The liquefied natural gas hopeful, which is partnering BG in one of five schemes to export the region's CSM, had net earnings of $244.6 million in the 12 months to June 30, reversing a $12.2 million loss the previous year.

The Australian - DUET energy trust cooking with gas

AUSTRALIAN utility and energy trust DUET says underlying earnings rose 14 per cent in the 2008 fiscal year, and it expects that continued expansion of its key natural gas pipeline in Western Australia will support further growth this year.

The Australian - Gas price 'inflated', watchdog called in

WEST Australian gas customers may be paying inflated prices, according to a complaint to the competition watchdog that questions whether a joint marketing arrangement by the six North West Shelf partners is illegal.

The Australian - SA LPG supplies contaminated

LIQUID petroleum gas supplies to petrol stations in South Australia have been disrupted after Shell reported that several loads from Santos's Port Bonython Plant had been contaminated with water.

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.

frogblog - Can you out-spend the oil industry?

Al Gore’s at it again. After his call for America to go 100% renewable in 10 years, his organisation “We Can Solve It” is running a TV ad in the US demanding clean energy. But because even his big-bucks buddies can’t compete with $850 million a year spent by oil and coal companies on advertising, they’ve asked people to spread it about on the internet.

STCWA - New bike commuters hit the classroom, then the road

Like many Americans, Tara Collins hadn't bicycled much since middle school. That changed this year when she started paying $50 to fill up her gas tank. Since early July Ms. Collins has been biking to her job in San Francisco. Now she's sitting in Bert Hill's bicycle safety course – along with 31 others – after a close shave with a van. "When that happened I thought, 'Wow, there probably are things I could learn about safety,' " says Ms. Collins. "I haven't been on a bike in years, and even when I did, it wasn't in traffic."

The high price of gas is creating a surge in bicycle commuting across the country, not just in West Coast cities but in places like Louisville, Ky., and Charlotte, N.C. The rush of newbies has triggered tensions with drivers unaccustomed to sharing the road, and driven cyclists to seek out traffic training.

frogblog - Cycle safety

STCWA - [NZ] Residents May Be Hoarding Petrol

MILFORD SOUND residents could be hoarding petrol as the shortage in the remote community bites. Allied Petroleum ceased selling petrol from its self-service pumps at Milford on August 1 after its eftpos card readers were superseded by a new, more expensive unit. The company said the outlet's low sales did not justify the upgrade.

Peak Energy - Masdar breaks ground on photovoltaic factory in Germany

Peak Energy - The myth of the tragedy of the commons

Peak Energy - Landfill Mining - Prospecting For Plastic

Peak Energy - Interest In CNG Powered Vehices Increasing

Peak Energy - The Summer Of Shale

Peak Energy - Grow your own home

Peak Energy - The Rise Of Biomass Power