Daily Links Apr 23

Saving energy a thriving business [$]
Soaring electricity prices have helped energy efficiency businesses like Shine On to double in turnover in the past three years.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/shine-on-thrives-on-saving-energy-for-commercial-business/news-story/f596e09963ef32ae21e759008863406d

Frydenberg stalls on woodlands protection after pressure from states and farmers
Decision on Tasmanian, NSW and Queensland woodlands’ on hold despite advice from expert committee
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/22/frydenberg-stalls-on-woodlands-protection-after-pressure-from-states-and-farmers

Victorians offered cash incentive to cut power bills
The Victorian Opposition says a $50 cash bonus to encourage Victorians to visit an energy comparison website to get a better power deal is just a “bribe” for voters ahead of the state budget.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-22/50-cash-for-checking-power-website-offered-by-vic-government/9684994

Fresh designs reduce some tollway impacts, but opponents not impressed
Fresh designs for the $16.5 billion North East Link tollway – the most expensive road in Victoria’s history – show it will still obliterate a popular tennis centre and affect a public golf course.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/fresh-designs-reduce-some-tollway-impacts-but-opponents-not-impressed-20180420-p4zauk.html

Cost of bike path plan through native parkland blows out [$]
THE cost of a controversial bike path proposed through parkland in Fitzroy North has ballooned to at least $900,000, prompting calls for the project to abandoned altogether.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/cost-of-bike-path-plan-through-native-parkland-blows-out/news-story/d13992e2155381990873a427c64a64cf

A pumped hydro site to make Sir John Monash proud — no, not Snowy 2.0
Paul Treasure
The question isn’t “if” but “how” to replace Yallourn Power Station with renewable energy alternatives
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/a-pumped-hydro-site-to-make-sir-john-monash-proud-no-not-snowy-20,11420

The big problem with our recycling [$]
Once a revenue raiser for councils, recycling is now costing them — and is being stockpiled and dumped into landfill. So what’s the solution? And what shouldn’t you put in your yellow-lidded bin?
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/technology/recycling-dumped-into-landfill-as-councils-struggle-with-chinas-waste-changes/news-story/1b805ed3d69f8006acd01411446f9a58

Plan to take away plastic [$]
A Hobart alderman says a Chinese government decision is affecting recycling costs for Tasmanian councils.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/hobart-city-council-will-consider-lobbying-government-to-ban-takeaway-plastic-food-containers-across-tasmania/news-story/6a75549e7b22887914fd7dd93f38c027

Going it alone in the Tasmanian wilderness [$]
Hermits have found solace in Tasmania’s wilderness for generations, including famous recluses Gustav Weindorfer, Jimmy Possum and Jane Cooper. And there are still people who go into hiding in this day and age, sometimes to find themselves.
http://www.themercury.com.au/lifestyle/tasweekend-going-it-alone-in-the-tasmanian-wilderness/news-story/933b35b24d327f3c2225ba6219a9a612

Just a parrot, just a Tiger, just a species
Lucy Stone
Many years ago one of Tasmania’s most unique animals was hunted to death, its carcasses displayed on fence-posts as a warning to others of its kin – stay away.
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5355951/just-a-parrot-just-a-tiger-just-a-species/?cs=97

‘You go in the ocean, you run a risk’: WA Premier speaks out on shark mitigation
Sharks make WA an “environmentally wild place” compared to other parts of the world, but the state government is doing all it can to mitigate the risk of an attack, the premier says.
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/you-go-in-the-ocean-you-run-a-risk-wa-premier-speaks-out-on-shark-mitigation-20180422-p4zb2e.html

More than 5000 homes without power as storm hits WA
Thousands of West Australians woke to homes without power as storms bringing thunder and lightning dumped up to 40 millimetres of rain over the state on Sunday morning.
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/more-than-5000-homes-without-power-as-storm-hits-wa-20180421-p4zazm.html

Earth Day founder calls for an end to plastic pollution
Denis Hayes was the principal national organizer of the first Earth Day in 1970, and he took the event to the international stage in 1990. He is board chair of the international Earth Day Network, and President of the Bullitt Foundation.
https://news.mongabay.com/2018/04/earth-day-2018-focuses-on-plastic-pollution/

This environmental group has sued the administration every 8 days
The NRDC is one of a group of environmental nonprofits fighting the Trump administration’s aggressive attempts to roll back environmental protections. They’ve been very busy.
https://www.fastcompany.com/40560452/this-environmental-group-has-sued-the-administration-every-8-days

Earth Day 2018 is more important than ever before
While public policies can have significant impact on the environment, personal responsibility plays a meaningful role also – especially locally.
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/opinion/editorials/2018/04/19/editorial-earth-day-2018-more-important-than-ever/529203002/

Earth Day 2018: 7 things we’ve learned since the last Earth Day
Our understanding of Earth — and how we’re changing it — just keeps expanding.
http://www.ehn.org/earth-day-2018-7-things-weve-learned-since-the-last-earth-day-vox-2562054179.html

A cynic’s field guide to Earth Day
I’m a big baseball fan. The ballpark is just about the only place in our culture where it’s perfectly acceptable to drop your beer cups, peanut shells, and hot dog wrappers at your feet.
http://www.ehn.org/a-cynics-guide-to-earth-day-2561769912.html

When did the world get so noisy? [$]
Susan Johnson
Traffic, building works, planes and new apartment buildings with poor sound insulation have helped deliver us a noisier world. Susan Johnson’s prediction for the future is that ‘quiet’ will become a precious commodity – as precious as air or water.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/susan-johnson-when-did-the-world-get-so-noisy/news-story/67820557f20e53e74c351aed3fecc663

Earth Day 2018 is more important than ever before
While public policies can have significant impact on the environment, personal responsibility plays a meaningful role also – especially locally.
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/opinion/editorials/2018/04/19/editorial-earth-day-2018-more-important-than-ever/529203002/

Bright Past, Boundless Future
Rocky Mountain Institute Earth Day video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z8WHb1klxs