For Hasbeen: You obviously don't understand the term, or 'figure of speech' - "horses for courses".

Allow me to make that idiom simpler for you to understand. When I said to Don Aitken;

"Solving the world's energy problems requires a mix - horses for courses"

It's like saying: Nuclear power would not be appropriate for Vanuatu, it could be for Sydney - horses for courses.

The pun might have been somewhat too cerebral to grasp Hasbeen, so let me put it this way:

I think we should adopt nuclear power AND I am a proponent of a carbon tax.

However, I agree with you,

"we can reduce our output from power generation by 30% just by building the latest coal fired systems" (just like China) - but, we don't.

You say building these state of the art coal fired power systems "is of course of no interest to those proposing a carbon tax".

Wrong. Some of the tax revenue raised will be reinvested in new coal fired power stations.

The Australian coal industry is expanding, exports are increasing and applications are being prepared.

Hasbeen, the Australian government won't be shutting down Old King Coal - despite the vacuous and disingenuous remarks (lies by any other term) of 'naysayers', who in travelling Australia-wide, spruik the coal industry will be ruined.

Hasbeen, you say;

"Their only reason is ideological, & probably a desire to punish the working & middle class for being too prosperous."

That is just silly (interesting and revealing monicka by the way).

A very proud old hasbeen, who has has much time to learn quite a lot. As someone might tell you some day, better a hasbeen that the other thing.

If you don't know the UN is out to screw the west to the wall, you are one of those never was.

Qanda, apart from stand alone small systems, supplying isolated communities, the only reason for a mix of generation systems is that your preferred system doesn't stack up economically, or vote buying.

Just like the stupidity of ethanol use in transport fuels, where the cure produces more CO2 than the disease, the same is happening in Hybrid cars, battery cars, & windmills generating electricity, mostly when it's not wanted.

It should be mandatory that all greenies have to learn enough math to be at least able to follow a simple sum. That would cure half the stupidity in the global warming argument.

Again Hasbeen: I have not indicated my "preferred system".

If you want to appreciate what I mean by "mix" - think of the Europe, or the US, or China - for example.
They are not "isolated" as far as I understand.

A few other things:

> Whether things "stack up economically, or vote buying" is the Crux - it has nothing to do with the science.

> I agree with your summation about ethanol and hybrid cars.

> You confuse windmills with wind-turbines - one for flour, one for power.

> Everybody (not just greenies) "should learn enough math to be at least able to follow a simple sum."

> Global warming is real, Hasbeen - it is not stupid (just ask Roy Spencer).

> You believe "the UN is out to screw the West to the wall" - 190 plus countries disagree with your assessment.

> You appear to be changing goal posts - I am not surprised.

Great piece, Nicki!
Helen P