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The Forum > Article Comments > Shining a light on affordable reliable electricity > Comments

Shining a light on affordable reliable electricity : Comments

By Geoff Carmody, published 11/9/2019

We’ve had decades of flailing around over energy policy

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A vast topic but I'd make several observations that suggest we may be barking up the wrong tree. First increasing emissions when we've had the RET from 2001, carbon tax 2012-2014 and direct action from 2011. The all important electricity sector has hovered around the 180 Mt emissions mark for two decades when it is supposed to plummet. Then there's retail power prices. ACCC thought the default offer policy would see average prices fall. It doesn't look like that will happen.

Now there's the renewable transmission corridors push. The aim is to reduce congestion and line losses. Trouble is just a couple of years ago we were told there was too much. The new build will be the gold plating you have when you're not having gold plating. Then there's east Australian gas exports. Just in case batteries don't prove enough to run smelters when coal is all closed we'll need something else. It beggars belief that eastern Australia will import gas which is probably what will keep the lights on in the 2020s.
Posted by Taswegian, Wednesday, 11 September 2019 9:46:30 AM
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Yes, let's have another time-consuming enquiry. Then have an enquiry into the enquiry/similar mad hatter time-wasting stalling to allow than status quo to continue like ever-worsening climate change, unabated!

It's not as though we're helpless/can't do anything!? BUT WON'T!

We have no other option than to take the nuclear route! As plain as the nose on your face! It couldn't be any clearer, more urgent!

Yes, coal/gas exports are almost alone propping up a tanking economy and are in terminal decline along with the global economy 1938 style? Coal/gas exports could be replaced by other much more enduring CARBON FREE energy exports, exported via undersea cables with super-strong superconductor graphene cores

At prices that never ever go down at the whim and caprice of the middleman importer, the latter eliminated via a direct sales to the consumer? A completely different kettle of fish from ships lining up awaiting their turn to unload!

Available for similar industrial application minus the usual transport shipping bill!

We have a very, very short window of commercial opportunity to become the world repository of nuclear waste. And earn annual billions for providing a burial service.

Governments are elected to do sensible stuff for folks too dumb to do it themselves? And just need to end the endless prevarication and patent self-interest that's progressively unwinding the economy!

Nuclear power generated by burning and reburning other folks nuclear waste in MSR thorium, with the material we are paid ANNUAL BILLIONS INDEFINITELY to handle/dispose of and in reactors these same annual billions could build and pay for over time, just makes too much economic sense for the perpetually prevaricating, political prostitutes, currently polishing our treasury leather in Canberra? If the cap fits?

Otherwise, these bought and paid for pollies (100 million in corporate funding?)? Would stop the endless political stoush and just crack on with doing what every boy and his dog knows, has to be done ASAP!

When you've run out of all excuses for the endless senseless delay! Have yet another interminable enquiry? Go figure?
Alan B.
Posted by Alan B., Wednesday, 11 September 2019 12:20:39 PM
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Al

Your exactly on the mark.
The problem with electricity generation is political.

But that's the problem with all they touch. I've always said, now I'm repeating myself, the least a politician does, the better for us all.

Unfortunately they have the reins.
Suggest something that removes that massive problem.

Dan
Posted by diver dan, Wednesday, 11 September 2019 12:34:40 PM
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Remove the nuclear ban. Add a carbon price. Bind energy retailers to a reliability requirement forcing them to marry unreliable renewable sources with backup to ensure 24/7/365 dispatchability. Remove direct and indirect subsidies.

Nuclear retailers would out-compete renewables ones, since the latters'reliability requires either preposterously expensive storage and/or carbon-priced coal/gas generated electricity.

The LNP needs to get a move-on with this. OTOH Labor has decided on a renewables path. The Finnish Greens support nuclear power while the reason the left are against it here has less to do with waste than with Gaia. Man needs to get out of nature's way by withdrawing to dense city-living (with a dense energy source driving everything, including desalination, food and synthetic fuel production) rather than trying to blend with nature. Earth repair and re-wilding and will ensue where man vacates.

https://medium.com/generation-atomic/2115-a-100-year-review-of-ecomodernism-43779c8f5d14?fbclid=IwAR1wGuUk_7EZEo8FERdqkDpk9SYj8Pef5aRAkWXHynMs8_Voh1FUayrP2Ek
Posted by Luciferase, Wednesday, 11 September 2019 3:20:50 PM
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Dan. There's only one way for sanity to prevail and get a change to carbon-free nuclear while there's still time and that is to put every incumbent last on the ballot paper at the first opportunity.

First cab off the rank has to be the repeal of the prohibition of nuclear energy and the establishment of a fund to fund and facilitate modern day co-ops to build and run them and dozens of other energy-dependent high tech industries.

Anything else has to result in some self-serving numbskulls just droning on and on how its somebody else's fault and somebody else's problem! That we're compelled to wait for someone else to act first!

Why?

Because nobody in our current parliament has the wit the will, the testicular fortitude or the smarts to go first! And get out of being the ones forced to make a decision by having yet another interminable enquiry!

I wish this were not so! But the facts and our current reality, speak for themselves so loudly that only the willfully blind and deaf cannot see or hear them, let alone the will of the people!

Yes, another election is some time off and some of our citizens can be bought for around forty pieces of silver or the modern equivalent.

And needs a concerted grassroots campaign like SSM, by all those who actually want climate change addressed and an economic new deal that's not just about lining the pockets of rapacious foreign investors! We always, sadly, get the government we deserve! And with them more of the same old, same old, business as usual!

What we need is a nuclear power party and some genuine people who can pass a lie detector test, to become part of it and fund it with crowdfunding! Volunteers? Or just complain and wait for someone else to do something?

If like me you love this country, then start doing and stop sitting on your hands waiting for someone else to do something! And goes for everyone who wants real change and real reform!
Alan B.
Posted by Alan B., Wednesday, 11 September 2019 5:00:29 PM
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Lock in 2/3rds of our gas production for domestic use including energy production (the yanks did 100% export energy ban to give them selves a manufacturing edge but that is unlikely to fly here).

Stop prioritising access to agricultural markets over our manufacturing interests in free trade agreements.

Have the government own and operated a series of gas fired power plants to support our renewable efforts and to prevent price gouging from predatory energy providers.
Posted by SteeleRedux, Wednesday, 11 September 2019 6:05:26 PM
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