The Guardian - Energy
‘Extremely effective’ organised campaigns against wind and solar undermining support for renewable energy 29 July 2026 at 16:00

‘Extremely effective’ organised campaigns against wind and solar undermining support for renewable energy

By: Graham Readfearn Environment and climate correspondent

29 July 2026 at 16:00

Clean Energy Council calls for a national, legislated scheme to funnel benefits of hosting renewables projects back to local councils

Organised campaigns against wind and solar energy have proved “extremely effective” in undermining community support for renewable energy but enthusiasm for electric vehicles has jumped after Donald Trump’s attack on Iran, according to a detailed snapshot of Australian attitudes to the clean energy transition.

The survey found levels of “deep support” for clean technologies were highest for home batteries and rooftop solar and also improving for major infrastructure projects such as transmission lines, which have been a target for critics of renewables.

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The Guardian - Energy
Locals fear for their children’s quality of life if the biggest coalmine extension in NSW is approved 25 July 2026 at 21:00

Locals fear for their children’s quality of life if the biggest coalmine extension in NSW is approved

The Guardian - Energy

By: Lisa Cox Climate and environment correspondent

25 July 2026 at 21:00

Minns government promised no new coalmines but permits expanding existing sites, despite being behind on climate targets

At Branxton community hall in the New South Wales Hunter Valley last week, local resident Janet Murray was given five minutes to speak about plans for the state’s biggest coalmine extension.

Before her were dozens of people, also there to share their views about whether the 19-year extension proposed by Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) should be allowed to proceed.

The Guardian - Energy
Coalition and One Nation’s plan to ditch net zero would not lower power prices, CSIRO report finds 14 July 2026 at 15:01

Coalition and One Nation’s plan to ditch net zero would not lower power prices, CSIRO report finds

The Guardian - Energy

By: Graham Readfearn Environment and climate correspondent

14 July 2026 at 15:01

GenCost report contradicts parties’ claims about abandoning emissions target, and finds nuclear would be most expensive way to generate power

Claims by the Coalition and One Nation that abandoning a net zero climate target would bring down power prices are contradicted in a new CSIRO report on the costs of generating electricity.

Generation costs will probably rise after 2030 regardless of Australia’s policy on net zero, according to the CSIRO’s annual GenCost report, but prices should then stabilise at levels below recent price spikes.

The Guardian - Energy
Australian homes lead the world in solar. But businesses are falling behind 8 June 2026 at 15:01

Australian homes lead the world in solar. But businesses are falling behind

The Guardian - Energy

By: Donna Lu Assistant editor · climate · environment and science

8 June 2026 at 15:01

Australia leads world in residential solar per capita with 22GW installed but commercial and industrial sector has deployed only a quarter of that

Australia’s revolution in rooftop solar has left behind commercial and industrial buildings, where installations have lagged far behind homes, according to new analysis.

Australia leads the world in residential solar on per capita terms, with 22GW installed as of last December. But businesses have only installed about a quarter of that – 5.6GW – despite consuming more electricity than households, a report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) has found.

The Guardian - Energy
Power to the people: how ‘balcony solar’ could help fight rising US utility costs 27 May 2026 at 12:30

Power to the people: how ‘balcony solar’ could help fight rising US utility costs

The Guardian - Energy

By: Ben Tracy of Climate Central

27 May 2026 at 12:30

More Americans are using small solar panels in their back yards or balconies as a clean way to cut their electric bills

If you feel like your electricity bill just keeps climbing, you aren’t imagining it. Since 2020, US residential energy prices have surged by about 30%, making power the largest household energy expense behind gasoline, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

But for residents like Alex Curtis, the days of feeling powerless against rising costs are coming to an end. Curtis is waging a war on his electric bill, and his new weapon of choice is a lightweight, thin-film solar panel.

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