Our electricity crisis is “the cost of virtue signalling”

Let’s get “certainty” — dump the RET.

Chris Kenny in The Weekend Australian puts almost all the pieces together.  This is self-sacrificial, pointless, and the RET is the problem because the subsidies allow renewables to drive out true baseload generation. The so-called hunt for “certainty” is a hunt for high prices because no one will speak the obvious “Dump the Renewable Energy Target”.

Dumping green folly will secure energy future, reboot economy

We are an energy-rich nation. Last year we exported 388 million tonnes of coal (valued at $35 billion) to supply affordable and ­reliable energy to countries such as Japan, China, South Korea and India. Our liquefied natural gas exports are doubling from 30 million tonnes a couple of years ago to almost 80 million tonnes (valued at $42bn) by 2019.

Australia also remains one of the largest exporters of uranium…

While we happily export our energy advantage, we have deliberately sacrificed it at home.

Turnbull — doing exactly the wrong thing after Trump won:

Astonishingly, less than a day after Donald Trump won the US election promising to abandon Paris, Malcolm Turnbull announced Australia’s ratification. The Prime Minister thumbed his nose at the obvious opportunity to hold out, see if the US withdrew (as it has) and perhaps forestall our own commitment.

The accord is dramatically weakened without the world’s largest economy, especially given other powerhouses such as China and India will continue to increase their emissions. (Ironically, perhaps no country is making a greater contribution to emissions red­uct­ions than the US through its innovation in areas such as fracking and battery technology.)

As Andrew Bolt says: New coal-fired power stations: World 621, Australia zero. Now understand?

h.t Paul Matthews, via Scott.

9.6 out of 10 based on 67 ratings

80 comments to Our electricity crisis is “the cost of virtue signalling”

  • #
    David Maddison

    Unfortunately our poltical elites are committed to the economic and cultural destruction of Australia. I often wonder if Australia as a Western power of middle ranking political, military and economic power is a test model for the globalist elites before they impose their destructive policies on other Western countries.

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    • #
      Rereke Whakaaro

      I see you are in an optimistic mood this morning, David 😉

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    • #
      Dennis

      Australia, wealthy, relatively small population and a tiny 2 per cent or so of global economy.

      Ripe for the picking?

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      • #
        Manfred

        Ripe for the picking?

        Already plucked, or is it phlucked? I’m afraid to say.

        The European Union and Australia sign Framework Agreement to deepen cooperation

        The Agreement will enable the European Union and Australia to tackle challenges in foreign and security policy, sustainable development, climate change, and economic and trade matters. It will encourage closer links between leaders across government, business and civil society.

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        • #
          Dennis

          Hmmm, now Australia’s participation in the Eurovision contest makes more sense, thank you.

          This reminds me of a radio interview with Labor Cabinet Minister Greg Combet around the time that their carbon tax was introduced. He was asked if it was true that 10 per cent of the carbon tax was pledged to the UN IPCC. After attempting to evade the answer he reluctantly confirmed it was true.

          And when asked about the future of carbon tax he said it would convert into an emissions trading scheme within a few years time. When pressed again to explain he said Australia would sign up to and participate in the EU ETS.

          If our treacherous politicians are planning to join Australia to the EU, and I believe that is their plan, Australians will be very angry I believe. And maybe, so will the two largest foreign investors in Australia, the UK and the US?

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          • #
            Dennis

            “There are currently five EU Centres operating in Australia – two in Melbourne, two in Adelaide and one in Canberra. These Centres, jointly funded by the EU and their host universities, are primarly instruments for public diplomacy both for the EU and its Member States.”

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            • #
              Manfred

              Ah, Dennis, I see you noticed that too. I wonder who the Universities are? Leaves one in little doubt why The Con reads as it does.

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          • #
            Yonniestone

            Greg Combet was a huge driver for my even lower opinion of Australian politicians, having to endure that smug s$!t eating grin on TV while he actively helped to sellout our country was just too much, Eurovision participation was the nail in our cultural coffin, what was once considered a semi funny/tragic production of talentless schmucks stuck in the 70’s was suddenly accepted as real entertainment, I’ve taken dumps with more charisma.

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            • #
              Dennis

              Combet is a union trained executive who the union ALP controllers parachuted into a safe Labor electorate seat in Newcastle NSW and they removed the sitting Labor MP to make way for Combet.

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              • #
                David Maddison

                He’s never had a proper job, just union related ones.

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              • #
                Just Thinkin'

                David, like SO many others for the labour party…..
                Time the unions paid tax….They are a business, after all….

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              • #
                David Maddison

                Just Thinkin’ – and even if courts ruled they were not a “business” the only alternative interpretation would be that they were a criminal enterprise. In that case, Australian courts have previously ruled that the proceeds of crime are still taxable so either way they would have to pay tax…

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          • #
            Manfred

            The UN elite cannot permit the EU ideological experiment to fail. Brexit highlighted their vulnerability. The EU, a proto-global NWO is the nucleus of a global administration by bureaucracy, ‘civil society’ and academics. See below, I wonder who the “host universities” are?

            It would seem Australia is already well locked into the Juncker goose-step. Did any of the rank and file know about this? Was this treaty voted on as part of an electoral mandate?

            EU-Australia relations, factsheet

            This legally binding, treaty-level agreement will … enable the EU and Australia to work on solutions to common challenges including in foreign and security policy, economic and trade matters, suistainable development, climate action, innovation and education … It is a platform for leaders of all ages from the fields of business, media, non-governmental organisations, civil society, think tanks, politics and academia from both the EU and Australia to collaborate on new ideas to promote and enhance the bilateral relationship. The next EU-Australia Leadership Forum is foreseen to take place in 2018 in Brussels.”

            “There are currently five EU Centres operating in Australia – two in Melbourne, two in Adelaide and one in Canberra. These Centres, jointly funded by the EU and their host universities, are primarly instruments for public diplomacy both for the EU and its Member States.”

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        • #
          Leonard Lane

          Have Australian politicians forgotten WWI and WWII?

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          • #
            Dennis

            Not WW2 I feel certain, because after that the United Nations was established and quickly became infiltrated by the NWO socialists. And at the time Australia’s Labor Attorney General (a red) Evatt put forward his plans for every member nation to sign as many treaties with the UN as could be arranged, treaties that could be used to get around constitutional law of each nation if needed.

            Former Prime Minister Howard was once asked by a journalist if international law could be enforced here and he replied only if the government of the day accepts it.

            I understand that some now EU member country governments signed up to joint the EU against the wishes of the majority of their citizens … this is a vague memory item.

            We are sheep.

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            • #
              Yonniestone

              Post WW2 Maurice strong after making his fortune in the oil and energy business running companies such as Petro Canada, Power Corporation, CalTex Africa, Hydro Canada, the Colorado Land and Cattle Company, Ajax Petroleum, Canadian Industrial Oil and Gas— to name just a few.

              Strong was the driving force behind the idea of world governance by the United Nations when he dreamt up a world tax on monetary transactions of 0.5% which would have given theUN an annual income of $1.5 trillion. About equal then to the income of the USA.
              The stumbling block was the Security Council, and their power of veto. He devised a plan to get rid of the Security Council but failed to get it implemented. Then came along the idea that global warming might just be the device to get his World Governance proposal up and running.

              And Soros was still counting the gold he helped pick out the teeth of his people during the final solution I guess.

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        • #
          Just Thinkin'

          We’re stuffed………….

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    • #
      TdeF

      I blame Malcolm Turnbull and his bed wetters. Deceitful extremists all. Elected as conservatives on a conservative platform, they are nothing of the sort.

      What small taxing conservative government spends $50bN to save the seat of one MP from South Australia, Christopher Pyne? What conservative governments supports the attacks on freedom of speech from the useless Human Rights Commission under Prof Triggs, who lied repeatedly and blatantly to the Senate and attacked helpless members of the public and even drove an excellent cartoonist off the edge for daring to express a valuable opinion. What conservative government cheers the closure of power stations when there is nothing to replace them? What sort of government bothers to ban two stroke petrol engines while presiding over the destruction of our way of life with the illegal RET tax?

      This level of deceit by politicians is common now, not just in Australia. “Tell people what they want to hear and when in power, you do what you want” as Adam Bandt said to me. This motto is now pervasive. Lifelong Labor left Turnbull family just pretended to be conservatives. The party of Robert Menzies? No.

      People are fighting back. BREXIT. The election of Donald Trump. Abbott’s (postal) plebiscite will show how badly the faux Liberals misrepresent the people with their attempt to change the marriage act, an extremist assault on all religion when civil union is law in every State.

      The bed wetters will revolt. They care about their jobs. Their only hope is to get rid of the hapless Turnbull. Abbott will repeal the RET as his first move. Never has such a legally wrong and damaging piece of legislation been passed. The power stations would fire up tomorrow. That is why the left are blowing them up.

      An election fought over the RET would be a landslide in both houses for Abbott. The swamp must be drained. Turnbull would sulk into well deserved obscurity, a ” poor actor who struts and frets his hour upon the stage. And then is heard no more.”

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      • #

        Turnbull would sulk into well deserved obscurity, a ” poor actor who struts and frets his hour upon the stage. And then is heard no more.”

        No, he’d do a Clinton, claim loudly that he was dudded and write his memoirs blaming everyone, especially Abbott, for white-anting his most excellent leadership.

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      • #
        Manfred

        What small…? What conservative governments…? What sort of government …?

        A government like the one across the Tasman, fully engaged UN Globull apparatchiks that embrace the UNEP and worship the UN IPCC, that relish partnership with the third sector of society (UN accredited civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations), “civil society” and are determined to extinguish national identity, Western culture, and the rule of democracy in favour of rule by bureaucracy, a far more convenient, manageable process (see the EU) for your own good and the good of the planet.

        Now, where’s the vomitorium?

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      • #
        Manfred

        What small…? What conservative governments…? What sort of government …?

        A government like the one across the Tasman, fully engaged UN Globull apparatchiks that embrace the UNEP and adhere to the UN IPCC doctrine, that help form that third sector of society (the other two being government and business), the UN accredited and ridiculously named “civil society.” A grand kollectiv determined to extinguish history, national identity, Western culture, traditional science, and the rule of democracy in favour of rule by bureaucracy, a far more convenient, manageable process immersed in an ideology (see the EU) of, “we know best for your own good and the good of the planet.”

        Now, where’s the vomitorium?

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        • #
          Manfred

          Oooops. Look like I found it.

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        • #
          OriginalSteve

          UN de laration of human “rights” – note article 3:

          http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/

          Article 29.

          (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

          (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

          (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

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      • #
        David Maddison

        I didn’t know two stroke engines were banned.

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        • #
          Tdef

          Not all. Just most conventional two stroke engines. Technically not a ban. You would think parliament had better things to do. Two stoke engines. The greatest moral challenge of a generation.

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          • #
            David Maddison

            What two strokes are specifically banned in our glorious Nanny State?

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          • #
            OriginalSteve

            Pretty much anything less than 70 hp i believe that has a carby cant be sold after 2019. That would pretty much mean every tree surgeon, councils with whipper snippers chainsaws, brush trimmers, motor biks , ag bikes etc and private individuals after 2019 will have to use a wet bit of string instead, or sit and emotionally sing to the tree instead….

            Existing stuff will be OK, but knowing how control freak lunatic the NWO flunkies are, they will ban them outright eventually. They cant help themselves…..its in thier socialist dna…

            Assuming electric replaces 2 stroke, not sure how you would charge them with an unreliable grid…oh hang on….

            I was thinking about how much pollution 2 strokes make and how it must be a small percentage i’d have thought, but i guess it just clamps down on even more freedoms bit by bit. I will happily use my chainsaw after 2019, just tick them off….

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            • #

              See the Legislation: http://www.environment.gov.au/protection/air-quality/publications/working-towards-australian-emission-standards-nrsiee-update-paper

              The categories of NRSIEE products to be covered by the Rules are:
              • spark ignition engines rated 19 kilowatts and below used in household and commercial operations, including: lawn mowers, ride-on mowers, mulchers, brush/line cutters, generators (includes onboard marine), pumps, chainsaws, and other small handheld or pushed/pulled engines
              • spark ignition engines used in marine vessels, including: outboard engines, personal watercraft, and sterndrive/inboard engines.
              A number of equipment categories are excluded (by definition) to ensure consistency with the exclusions in the US EPA emission standards as follows:
              • stationary engines
              • automotive engines
              • aircraft engines
              • All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
              • engines for use in reduced scale models of vehicles that are not capable of transporting a person
              • engines imported for re-export which will not be used in Australia or supplied to the Australian market.

              In the US (see Table 1) Chainsaws below 50cc are excluded (I don’t know how big a chainsaw normally is).

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              • #
                Robert Rosicka

                It’s a bit contradictory re kilowatt and cc.

                10

              • #
                Robert Rosicka

                My chainsaw is 2 kilowatt so it’s included but it’s displacement is less than 50cc so it’s excluded ? Which one cancels out the other ?
                As with most things the government do it’s not well thought out , at least one chainsaw manufacturer have been making EFI two stroke chainsaws but only in bigger models and much dearer .
                One thing is for sure the consumer seems to be in the dark again .

                20

              • #
                David Maddison

                The implications of this ban are massive and I don’t think most people know about it and I certainly didn’t.

                The other insanity is the European rule limiting the power of vacuum cleaners to 900W. I don’t think that rule applies here yet but it’s only a matter of time.

                http://joannenova.com.au/2014/08/eu-bans-good-vacuum-cleaners-next-big-kettles-hot-irons/

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      • #
        Roger

        In the UK the people least likely to go out and vote are socialists ……. when everyone must vote then the politically apathetic left wing socialists do go out and vote. Maybe something to ponder on…..

        20

        • #
          Dennis

          Both sides reject the concept of non-compulsory voting, and first past the post primary vote only, no preferences.

          10

          • #
            Roger

            I thought that was the case. I suspect that when people are compelled to vote, as opposed to making the positive decision to vote for what they care about and believe in, then there are some strange election results.

            00

      • #
        Mark

        ‘That is why the left are blowing them up.’
        What an amazing sentence.
        Normally blowing up crucial assets is done by enemies without. But here we have it being undertaken (with fanfare, no less) by enemies within.

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    • #
      Geoff

      I would go farther, much farther. Those elites who have caused this fiasco MUST go to prison.

      40

      • #
        el gordo

        They will plead momentary insanity and point towards the precautionary principle.

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        • #
          OriginalSteve

          I had an encounter with a wealthy chap in the workplace, who was clearly “connected” and had married a Sloane and lived in a very wealthy area.

          He was happy to bring into disripute hardworking ethical people, just to sell his own product ( he had his own company ) by casting doubt on peoples trustworthyness.

          Interestingly, he got closed in on and shut down, but had it not happened, he’ d have happily followed through.

          Never equate wealth with integrity or morality was the lesson. In fact as tome goes on, it seems the elite are a law unto themselves and just cannot be trusted. This seemed to be further proof.

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          • #
            Dennis

            A long hard look at the superannuation industry management fees and financial advisor up front fees and hidden commissions would horrify people, before the clean up commenced in more recent years it was rip off heaven for players “looking after” our money.

            It is still a minefield for the unwary who do not shop around, monitor the superannuation fund performance and shop around for fee for service advice.

            Of course for politicians it’s different, our are accumulation schemes subject to market performance, rise and fall, but theirs is a defined benefits scheme, regardless of market they know what they will get at retirement time, and they can access their pension when they leave office.

            10

  • #
    Sean

    “Certainty” as its used for green power plans is a euphemism for guaranteed profitability. This profitability is usually extracted from both the both rate payer and the reliable power system whose utilization rate is cut in half but has to operate.

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  • #

    We need to follow the example of Germany: talk a lot of green guff while mining and burning coal. Like Germany, we’ve loaded ourselves up with a lot of klutzy green hardware to satifsy the carpetbaggers and Guardian readership, but all of that can be dismantled and writtten off, much as one writes off the losses of a war or natural disaster.

    The media push Big Green with all their weight and you don’t know of popular resistance to the Blob till you talk to people one on one. Yesterday, as part of a blackout plan, I switched over to gas for the kitchen. The bloke who came down our dusty road with the gas bottles is pretty typical of the Australian public outside the luvvie epicentres. He loves the bush, his acres and his animals, and he was informed about the war on our domestic energy. Quiet disgust would best describe his feelings.

    We think we’re alone because of the media. We’re not. Big Green is loathed, as are Turnbull and Shorten. The Australian public, like Romanians in the 1980s, are portrayed as persuaded in nightly broadcasts by a slave media and in constant boasting by bribed and captive authority. In fact we are as skeptical as all get-out.

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    • #
      Lance

      The “shelf life” of humanity is about 5 days without power. After that time, people will kill each other over a ham sandwich.

      The reality of this scenario is enhanced by unreliables. Big Green, Big Media, and Big Politic may argue as they wish, but once the lights go out, it would be wise to have a plan to get them back on before the masses decide they are more inclined to survival than virtue signalling from an easy chair prior to the event.

      Individuals are often smart. Groups of people are often quite stupid.

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      • #

        Lance mentions this:

        …..but once the lights go out, it would be wise to have a plan to get them back on before the masses decide they are more inclined to survival…..

        We have devolved down to the ‘facebook’ society I’m afraid.

        When we had our own Cat5 Cyclone Marcia pass directly overhead here at Rockhamption, we lost power and for us, luckily it was only for 6 days nights, and oddly, I was surprised how well we (personally) managed, and you end up doing what you have to do, as you always find a way.

        However, at the end of day 4, we were busting for a coffee in the cool, out of the humid heat which followed the big blow.

        I knew that the local Mall was up and running as they had their own backup generators, so we went there for an hour and a half, just to sit in the cool for a while.

        The food court was jam packed solid, and doing a roaring business, with queues at every counter, and all the tables were taken.

        However, the thing I noticed the most, and it made me smile was that virtually everyone had their phones, pads, and laptops all on charge at the nearest power outlet, and there were queues at each of those power outlets, even in fact inside the toilets and corridors as well. Every second store had a hand written sign in the window saying that people could come in and use their power outlets, and there were queues at those as well. The ones who had already charged their devices were all sitting at the food court tables, munching on the fast food, eyes down on their devices, every vantage point taken, and standing room only.

        Even as we were leaving, around 4.30/5PM, people were still streaming in with their devices and charging leads under their arms.

        It was all so comical.

        You could tell they were on facebook, as they were not using the devices to make calls, just eyes down and scrolling.

        That’s what the lack of electrical power means these days. No facebook. Take that away, and people are just lost.

        I asked one of the cleaning staff there, and we know a couple of them, having lived here now for almost 8 years, and they said that people had been streaming in since before official opening time. The food court was jam packed solid all day, as was every power outlet.

        Tony.

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        • #
          OriginalSteve

          Yep, and the thing is, we “old dinosaurs” who know how real world stuff works ,will survive in the long run…..the younger generation, not so sure….

          30

  • #
    Rereke Whakaaro

    Interesting question about the chicken and the egg.

    Was Turnbull’s ratification of the Paris agreement in response to Trump’s action? Or was it a case of Turnbull not quite knowing what planet he is on, today?

    People are not supposed to use the term “fiddling”, in polite political company, but you have to wonder about politicians with a Nero complex.

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    • #
      Graeme No.3

      RW
      according to at least one account Nero played the bagpipes. That fits better with Lord Waffles, a lot of huffing and puffing from a wind bag causing an unholy din, based on a non orthodox scale.

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    • #
      Roger

      As the Paris agreement only committed the signatory nations to come up with their own INDC (Independent Nationally Determined Contribution) it doesn’t seem very binding. You just change your INDC.

      China is Doubling its CO2 emissions through its INDC and India is trebling theirs. As Paris provides for a near 50% increase in global CO2 emissions by 2030 it seems fairly clear that neither the IPCC nor COP believe that increased emissions will affect global temperatures.

      As senior IPCC personnel have publicly stated in the past, this has nothing to do with climate its simply about wealth redistribution.

      Time politicians faced up to hose 2 facts.

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  • #
    KinkyKeith

    ” the subsidies allow renewables to drive out the true base load generation”.

    Who needs stealth bombers when we have President Mal.

    171

  • #
    clive hoskin

    Just like with anything, cut out all government funding and let the power gods fall where they may. If renewables are the future and just so great and can generate all the power that is needed, let them do so without any propping up by governments. If Joe Public wants to be the saviour of the world and go solar or gerbil treadmill or wind in his household, by all means do so, no subsidies, and the grid from which the evil planet killing pollutants emanate from is shut completely off.

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  • #
    Graham Richards

    It’s time to find out who/ what Turnbull is working for. It’s certainly not for Australia & Australians.
    Everything thing this abomination stands for is anti Australia. This disease must be eradicated.

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  • #
    Robdel

    It has taken Chris Kenny a long time to realise that. If he had spoken out sooner in the national press we might have save a few coal fired stations.

    51

  • #
    PeterS

    Much like other hot topics of late, vocal minority groups appear to be in control. The AGW band wagon is relatively small yet is full of people with million watt loud speakers telling everyone we must move as close to 100% renewbales ASAP or else the earth will burn up. It’s really time these loud mouths were shut down but it can only happen when we have a PM who is of the same mind and heart as us skeptics. So as long as we have the likes of Turnbull and Shorten nothing will change until our economy is in such a mess people start reacting to the loud mouths, something I’m not really looking forward to due to concerns about civil unrest. Meanwhile Turnbull et al will not change even if the whole place was burning. They just don’t have the heart to admit they got it wrong, unlike Abbott. I’m not necessarily suggesting Abbott return but what the heck, he would do a much better job although I doubt the biased media and the loud mouths would allow him a second chance – they just hate him so much despite the fact he did very little wrong, and compared to Turnbull, Abbott was a super hero when he was PM. The next couple of years will be interesting, and what the PM does whoever that may be will be the deciding factor as to whether Australia avoids hitting a brick wall resulting in a collapse in our economy the likes we haven’t see for a very long time, perhaps since the Great Depression. For all our sakes Australia wake up, please! Stop worrying more about whether to buy the new iPhone or who is going to win the next football event. We as a nation are right now in very dangerous waters with destructive winds and waves already smashing against us. We must turn around and avoid being sunk.

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    • #
      el gordo

      ‘I’m not necessarily suggesting Abbott return but what the heck….’

      He is the only one capable of saving the party and our democracy, but as I’ve said previously, Dutton for PM and Tony can have his pick of the portfolios.

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      • #
        Yonniestone

        Tony’s too nice a bloke to survive the current Marxist political climate, we need a real bastard on our side to make a difference, someone with the right amount of mongrel in them.

        30

    • #
      el gordo

      ‘…it can only happen when we have a PM who is of the same mind and heart as us skeptics.’

      A couple of years ago Tony Abbott ignored Peter Dutton’s warning that a coup was pending, told him to sack Hockey and save himself, but was ignored.

      When it comes to climate change Dutton is uncommitted, but we can sway him to our side.

      00

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  • #
    Lance

    The cost of virtue signalling is a result of allowing “bit players” to be treated preferentially in the market place.
    A quick way to eliminating non dispatchable sources is to force them to be treated as all regulated utility generating sources are.
    They must bid for an exact amount of provided power over a precise time period at a future date. Just like utilities must. If they cannot meet the contractual requirements of the legally binding commitment, then they are financially responsible for the failure.

    One cannot rationally “pretend to be a grid capable asset” and simultaneously demand “not to be treated as a grid capable asset”.

    Responsibility is a wonderful thing. Coupled with financial and legally binding penalties for failure to perform, such responsibility is a sure and certain teacher.

    Don’t ratepayers have legal rights as well?

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  • #
    David Maddison

    Sorry to sound negative but I think Australia is rapidly progressing to failed state and I feel there is little hope of recovery.

    We need to acknowledge just how serious our situation is.

    A cheap and reliable electricity supply is one of the most fundamental inputs into a modern economy and this infrastructure is what has been specifically targeted for destruction by the elites (apart from the mass importation of some of the world’s most uneducated, unassimilable and violent people as I have previously mentioned).

    Situations like this do not end well. Australians are generally apathetic but this situation, if it continues, could easily end up in civil war within ten years, probably sooner.

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    • #
      David Maddison

      It really is that serious. Apathetic Australians have never previously faced a situation where the economy or culture has been deliberately destroyed.

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      • #
        OriginalSteve

        Agreed. Its a purely political act.

        It is also a “religious war”- humanity vs the gaia worshippers…..

        Mods – this is an importaby point.

        30

  • #
    RickWill

    I have found another correlation between wind and solar market share by State and the level of welfare.

    Elizabeth North, in Adelaide, ranks highest in the nation for welfare payments verse tax payments.

    For example, residents in the Elizabeth North area and surrounds receive $3.84 in welfare payments for every dollar of income tax paid, The Australian reports.

    https://tenplay.com.au/news/national/may-2017/areas-where-residents-receive-more-welfare-than-they-pay-income-tax

    At least 15 areas in Australia have become welfare enclaves where residents collectively receive more in benefits than they pay in income tax, according to an analysis of 40 postcodes that received the most government benefits.

    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/treasury/the-15-hardstruggle-postcodes-where-welfare-in-exceeds-income-tax-out/news-story/afa22fffd0f2a4a15216d4040974c39e
    SA only has 6.8% of the population but has 4 out of the 15 Australian post code areas where welfare payments are greater than tax receipts.

    SA the Welfare State

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  • #
    Antoine D'Arche

    how much power is required to run the trams in Melbourne?
    is their performance affected by power outages, and will Dan Andrews be paying them to stop running?

    10

    • #
      Robert Rosicka

      I think more power than you can get from solar during the day but should be ok at night though using Dangerous Dans methodology.

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    • #

      how much power is required to run the trams in Melbourne?
      is their performance affected by power outages, and will Dan Andrews be paying them to stop running?

      I think we all know what this means, well, all of us who come here to this site anyway.

      The trams use X MWH per day.

      The solar pant generates X MWH of power per day.

      Ergo, the solar plant can run the trams.

      As long as the trams keep running, day and night, it only stands to reason in the mind of the clueless that the solar plant runs the trams, eh, because Premier Andrews has purchased all the power output of that solar plant, no matter where it is consumed, because after all, it’s the Victorian taxpayer footing the bill.

      Anyway, the solar plant is connected ONLY to the grid, so all Premier Andrews is consuming is grid power.

      Because he is using only grid power to run the trams, he is in point of actual fact paying the agreed price for all that solar power, a cost far greater than what the average cost of the grid power is at any time that those trams are actually consuming power.

      So, money just flushed down the toilet really.

      Tony.

      60

  • #
    RoHa

    After seventy years of Australia slavishly following the Americans in every folly they indulge in, the one time an American president does something sensible, the Australian government decides not to follow.

    40

  • #
    Whalehunt Fun

    [SNIP]

    21

  • #
    Egor the One

    Sack all CAGW advocates, Zero the RET target, and give the Paris Climate BS ‘the Bird’!
    Anything less will do nothing .

    10

  • #
    TdeF

    Repeal the hidden Renewable Extortion Tax. It is the entire problem. Everything will go back to normal. Electricity at 4c kw/hr is marked up to 40c kw/hr. The 36c in the middle is almost entirely profit. Or it goes to pay for others to own solar panels and windmills for which you pay and for which you are charged again, earning more certificates for making, not necessarily selling electricity. A massive merry go round of cash. rThe cheapest and most abundant and ecologically friendly electicity is being forced out of business by an absurd proposition that Carbon Dioxide is killing the planet, drowning polar bears and cities, causing hurricanes and civil war.

    The RET is unique. It is totally hidden at wholesale. It is also marked up and so you pay in advance as the electricity company does not have to immediately buy the certificates, so they make money without spending any. That’s a billion % markup. The certificates are generated by the mere fact of making ‘non fossil fuel’ electricity and it is made clear this electricity does not have to be sold to earn certificates. That is additional and optional income.

    Worst, this hidden and massive carbon tax (not on ‘fossil fuel’ and up to $400 a tonne at retail) is not a tax or a fine. It breaks all traditions of government and justice, as it enriches strangers at order of the government and for nothing.

    That is government ordered theft on a scale not seen since King John. It was the reason for the revolt and the signing of Magna Carta. Since then the forced enrichment of others has been illegal, a fundamental principle of law, but no longer in our democratic country run by minorities. The justification for breaking the compact with the people of Australia? The world is warming. Except it is not. It is all the BOM can do just to stop the world temperature from going down. Environmental Extortion, brought to you by both sides of parliament.

    The great ecological movements of the 1960s have turned against humanity. Humans are the problem. Get rid of them and the world will be saved. For whom?

    20