Taswegian; at least in trees it seems we share a common ancestry. Damn the Hydro (and the paper) we still need some old fashioned wood heat. They installed a big transformer for my planned floor heating but by then I was cruising the “alternatives” and building designs that included a little solar passive help. Back on our abandoned hobby “farm” we left a reserve. It was home to our last white goshawk amongst other things.

Hands off guns! (n)

I made a brief comment at the end of another topic about my concern that much comment smacks of elitism when it comes to environmental science. Also people in policy need to get out and do things to have a grip on the practical. When Rosslyn Beeby moved to the Canberra Times we had an upsurge in output from a select group but with respect they are not the voice of the masses. A night flight over Melbourne gives a measure of that.

I am actually fascinated by the idea of hydro electricity and a walk up the old wooden penstocks to Lake Margaret confirmed my view that it was a good thing. But it’s not until you hold an insulator in a switchyard and contemplate the thunderstorms still happening across the ranges that you get a real feel for the industry. I had similar thoughts while issuing radios to the team protecting facilities at North West Cape.

Martin Callinan’s article in the Canberra Times yesterday on US energy policy and recent moves isolating Australia was accompanied by a photo. It showed a worker “Odd man out” silhouetted in a sea of high voltage transmission lines.

I was impressed by that picture.

Just to bring the thread back to the nuclear option, the following link argues the plethora of reasons why nuclear power is not so clean or green or even economic.

"· In the nuclear fuel process, uranium enrichment depends on great amounts of electricity, most of which is provided by dirty fossil fuel plants releasing all of the traditional air pollution emissions not released by the nuclear reactor itself. Two of the nation's most polluting coal plants, in Ohio and Indiana, produce electricity primarily for uranium enrichment.

· The operations of nuclear power plants release dangerous air emissions in the form of radioactive gases, including carbon-14, iodine-131, krypton and xenon.

· Uranium mining mimics techniques used for coal, and similar issues of toxic contamination of local land and water resources arise -- as does the matter of the unique radioactive contamination hazards to mine workers and nearby populations. Abandoned mines contaminated with high-level radioactive waste can pose radioactive risks for as long as 250,000 years after closure.

· Concerns about chronic or routine exposure to radiation are augmented by the supreme risk of catastrophe in the event of power plant accidents. A major failure in the nuclear power plant's cooling systems, such as the rupture of the reactor vessel, can create a nuclear "meltdown." Catastrophic accidents could easily kill 100,000 people."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/05/AR2005070501291.html

I'm convinced that today's middle class is unwilling to cut their average energy use more than about 20%. Beyond that they will scream blue murder. In my opinion only nuclear can fill the gap. I've mentioned before I live in a solar house and drive a partly biofuelled car. While some of the objections to nuclear are undoubtedly true I think we will have to make a pact with the Devil. Also keep handy a list of what's wrong with coal and the limits to renewables every time we hear what's wrong with nuclear. I think the clamour for climate stable adequate energy will drown out the antinuclear voices, perhaps within a decade.

So far we have a discussion that is mostly about power sources and sometimes about consumers but no one is looking at the grid. It’s a monster and there are both follies and savings to be made here.

What bothers me most though is debate itself. Most of us can quote others or massage figures to suit ourselves. Where are the experts from these industries? Let’s have some engineers with their feet on the ground before we run away with our own ideas.

Who here has experience in say handling anything nuclear? I can say industrial safety is a practice learned only on the job and it is best handed down through a master apprentice relationship. There are no short cuts to valid experience and its all part of our dilemma.

I would expect that there is plenty of overseas expertise available on nuclear power plants, and Australia is an attractive place to live. There should be no difficulty getting people to move here for a time while the local skillbase is constructed.

Indeed open an immigration list for skilled nuclear power plant staff, and watch how quickly it fills up.

Sylvia.

Chris a lack of a reply by Dennis on a energy effeciency drive speaks volumes on par with their opposition to the Kyoto treaty. Why should they show some vision and commonsense now?

A interesting bit of local renewables history is that Sir Joh during his time in Qld supported renewables research but the funding was cut by Labor when it got in.

BTW the Page Research Centre, The National Party think-tank, has began a study into alternative energy options, including nuclear energy, which it says it's particularly keen to investigate.

We can only hope that the Nats in Canberra can show some vision and commonsense on this, that is sorely laking with their Lib colleagues.