"Wind power is already cheaper and if coal subsidies and externalities are fully accounted for in the cost of electricity, solar would compare favourably with coal power."

What total rubbish. This is an example of intellectual dishonesty.

If "wind is cheaper" than coal, why are we having to subsidise it by $90/MWh? Why are the costs of the grid sky rocketing? Why aren't all the hidden costs that should be attributable to weather-dependent renewables included in their cost?

As usual a fundamental green is advocating renewable as the only ALLOWED energy alternative able to be considered or referred to ever! And react to the fundamental flaw in their economy harming rationale, with simplistic argument about energy efficiency!?

Like what, replacing all the elevators in all the high rises with stairs. Get out of those wheel chairs you lazy old reprobates!

It's like they live inside a bubble, so as to prevent pragmatism and practical common sense from getting in and forcing them to actually think!?

Those that can need to read Graham's latest Ambit Gambit on climate change and some of the, in reply posts!

Then ask these "fundamentalists" and their do nothing useful, support base to just get out of the way! And allow those who know what needs to be done and how! To just get on and get it done!

They remind me of willful children having to be dragged kicking and screaming to first day school, out of fear of learning to think!

The only thing to fear, is fear itself and the fear mongers who peddle it!

Know the truth and the truth will set us free! And indeed, usher in a thousand years of peace!

Which is what you buy with CHEAP CLEAN SAFE NUCLEAR ENERGY; and that energy is MOLTEN SALT THORIUM ENERGY! Which could if properly managed as our birthright! Cost the average household a $1.50 a year, as their total power bill! YES!

Turbocharge our domestic economy plus, end all war and want!

Seriously, that is what is at stake here and on the table!

Read Graham's latest article and all the following posts. Then do some fact checking on U tube, via google tech talks, where some of the planet's most highly credentialed experts will, IF YOU ALLOW IT, leave you fully informed, with short succinct bites, as long as 13 minutes and as short as four! Or just hit the snooze button and go back to sleep!?

Name your pleasure! Get educated or remain willfully ignorant/bored brainless? Given you can't do both!
Alan B.

Aidan,

Are you going to give us the costs of 'respiratory disorders'? Listening to you,one would think everybody lined up to suck coal dust regularly. Even miners, with open cuts, don't have problems these days.

Is he dumb enough to believe this crap, or just a lying conman?

What ever the case, wouldn't you hate to have to depend on someone for your medical requirements, who can talk such utter garbage.

"However, experience in other regions such as the ACT, in countries such as Germany, and assessments by multiple analysts show that power demands can be fully met by a combination of wind and solar using interconnected networks, with power boosts being supplied by hydro sources, concentrated solar thermal and gas-fired turbines using biofuels."

The author either has a very short memory, or else he is being deliberately misleading and unethical.

He conveniently does not mention the proven unreliability of the renewables-intensive SA power system that resulted in the disastrous state-wide blackout in SA on 28 Sep 2016, with miners and industry suffering revenue losses of at least $150million. If he wants evidence of the massive damage caused by the blackout, may I suggest he contact the Whyalla steelworks, BHP Olympic Dam, the Port Pirie lead smelter or Prominent Hill mine.

More SA blackouts can be expected as a result of substantially lower interconnected power becoming available from Victoria following the closure of Hazelwood power station.

Tasmania is another case in point, where renewable power availability was cut short by the drought, and the interconnect cable from Victoria failed.

Whyalla and Pirie may still be there but are dead., begging bowl in hand to Politicians and none silly enough to buy. The subs need highly specialised metals, sans Whyalla, sans subs.