There is much debate about 'fosil fuels' and 'alternative energy', but, has enough thought been given to the real cost of 'cleaner energy'.

Take fosil fuels, say coal.

First, there are geoligists that have to find and assess the deposits.

Then there are the fild officers who have to consult with land owners in many cases.

There are the miners, the manufacturers of mining equipment, the service workers who maintain this equipment.

Then the are the haulage workers, who haul the raw coal.

There are those who buy and sell the comodity.

Then we go to those who process the coal into useable fuels.

The number of people either 'directly employed', or 'indirectly employed' is simply 'mind boggling'.

Now how on earth do we stand a chance of providing jobs for the masses if we stop using fossil fuels?

My suggestion, as always, find a way to deal with ploution.

In the mean time, we should be working on a 'fail safe' way to switch to nuclear power. For at least this will secure jobs going forward.

rehctub
I don't know what the comparsion would be but I imagine there would be more jobs in small business with renewable energy rather than a conglomerate such as with the coal industry. Solar and wind energy shops who also employ staff, manufacturing of parts which are made of metal or glass which require mines, employees of smaller energy companies who harness wind power etc.

It would be interesting to see the comparison, not only employment-wise but if there would be greater opportunities for Australian ownership particularly on the smaller scale.

There is currently a world shortage of geologists so I don't think this would affect that profession as much as one would think given all the other sorts of mining enterprises around.

We can afford nothing less.
I am running the PC and lights right now via stand alone battery backed solar.
It cost less than $1000 in time I Will generate all my power,we all could if government restored the solar rebates rates of last year.

pelican
Problem is, we would export the raw materials and import the parts, if not the entire pannels.

Where are the jobs in that?

After all, once a solar pannel is built and installed, there are very few ongoing jobs created. Where to then?

Belly, good on you. Now let's hope we don't all follow suit, otherwise our mining workforce will be cut to shreds. Don't you think?

Remember, the newly branded 'mineral tax', only gets paid once a profit is made.

Less coal = less profit = less tax = less revenue = less to spend = less jobs = less disposable income = a poorer economy. Then what!

We simply can't afford to do away with fosil fuel until an alternative is found that creates the same number of jobs.

This is why I say we need to find a way to deal with carbon, rather than stop producing it.

I say we should surreptitiously include it in a new range of sausages (no-one knows what goes into those things anyway - except perhaps rehctub)

Good luck with that system Belly. I have lived with a system that had solar, wind, & diesel, to give a reliable supply.

After about 18 months the maintenance became a real annoyance, & battery replacement became a major expense.

If you expand the instillation, only use the absolute best quality in everything, or lack of reliability will drive you up the wall. Definitely source aircraft quality wiring, & connectors, only that quality is worth using.