Hemscott - Australia coal price index drops to 4-mth low of $140

Coal prices for power generators in Australia, a benchmark for Asia, dropped to a four-month low of $140 a tonne on Tuesday, following a tumble in oil markets as investors fled to safer havens amid turmoil in the U.S. financial system. But analysts said supply tightness in key export countries such as Australia, China, Indonesia and South Africa, along with robust underlying demand, would help keep a floor on prices.

The Australian - Report counts on gas prices doubling

AN independent expert's report on Origin Energy counts on east-coast gas prices doubling in the next eight years to justify its valuation of double BG Group's takeover offer. It also says there is an 80-90 per cent chance of a big liquefied natural gas export plant at Gladstone being approved by Origin and ConocoPhillips.

STCWA - [Tasmanian] Premier's Fuel Summit

There is no doubt that high fuel prices are hurting Tasmanian families and businesses. I want the Tasmanian Government to explore options that can help ease one of the greatest cost pressures affecting our community. That means listening to the ideas and suggestions from individuals and industry and community groups.

That's why I will be hosting the Premier’s Fuel Summit in Launceston on 4 September aimed at fostering innovation with the potential to make a real difference at the local level. I would encourage all Tasmanians with an interest in the fuel price issue to consider lodging a comment for consideration.

The Australian - Uranium stocks up as Librals take power in WA

Analysts said interest in uranium stocks with projects in WA had been stirred last week as it emerged that the anti-uranium state Labor government would require the support of the pro-uranium Nationals to guarantee supply. Sunday's news that Liberal leader Colin Barnett had secured the Nationals' support, confirming that the road was clear for uranium mining in WA to go ahead, brought a boost of confidence to uranium stocks yesterday.

Hemscott - Australia's Hot Rock eyes A$60 mln geothermal grants

Australia's Hot Rock Ltd will seek up to A$60 million ($49 million) in government funds to help speed up development of geothermal energy generating projects, its managing director said on Monday. 'We will be looking for federal government support of A$30 million and the Victoria state government for A$30 million under early development schemes,' Mark Elliott told Reuters in an interview.

ABC - Oil companies 'ripping off motorists'

Motoring group NRMA says oil companies have no excuse not to pass on savings to consumers, in the wake of another sharp drop in the price of crude. Oil has fallen to $US92 a barrel. Two months ago it was trading at $US147.

CommSec's chief economist, Craig James, says investors are abandoning oil as fears grow about the economic implications of the turmoil in the US financial sector. But he says the lower oil price is unlikely to be reflected at Australian bowsers.

ABC - Consumers facing unknown in carbon offset jungle

Australians are spending more than $44 million a year to offset the carbon pollution from activities such as flights and road trips. While the Rudd Government has promised to introduce a national standard for carbon offsets by the end of this year, consumer and environment groups have developed their own ranking system.

frogblog - Saving the trolley buses, again

A strange anomaly of the Emissions Trading Scheme is that electricity is facing a carbon charge from 2010, while fuel faces a charge in 2011. This meant that the electric trolley buses in Wellington faced the strange side effect that they could become less viable compared to diesel buses. Luckily Sue Kedgley and other stepped in and negotiated $100,000 compensation to Greater Wellington for one year to keep the trolley buses running efficiently during that year.

frogblog - Peak oil saves lives?

Sadly, as we’ve been discussing in recent weeks, peak oil is threatening people’s lives in the context of international security, war and militarism in the Middle East and other fossil fuel extracting countries. But it seems here in New Zealand there are less people dying as the cost of burning a limited resource rises.

frogblog - Kiss your gas goodbye

frogblog - More palm oil for our cows, less rainforest for our future

Peak Energy - Next Generation Underwater Turbines

Peak Energy - Recycling Waste Heat Via Cogeneration

Peak Energy - Rip Power

Peak Energy - Let There Be White (Roofs)

Peak Energy - Puegeot's diesel-hybrid Le Mans racer

Peak Energy - Solar Roofs

Peak Energy - The Last Days Of Fish

Peak Energy - Children of MEND (Bolivia, Nigeria and Geopolitical feedback loops)

Peak Energy - Sarah Palin - Future Shock Personified ?

Peak Energy - Oktapodi