Tag: Energy

Consumers warned of looming ‘nightmare’ as AEMO reports record wholesale electricity costs – ABC News

This report reads as if this emergency is a natural disaster and not the collapse of a man-made system that’s currently out of control. We have seen the collapse of man-made free-market systems before and occurring more regularly and have seen governments stepping in to bolster and stabilise them at everyone’s expense. Not just at the expense of their owners. Free markets simply don’t operate in everybody’s interest and never have so why should everybody pay least of all those that can least afford to? A race for profit was never one based on common sense.

We are currently feeling and experiencing proof positive of a collapse as if we have nobody to blame for it domestically. Yes, we have globally connected something the LNP denied about climate for over a decade simply because to think otherwise would have affected trade and the profit race of some. Our current domestic failure is a reflection of man’s failure to treat energy as a global resource but rather treat it as a privatised one. In Australia’s case owned by multinational corporations who control energy from resource to production and distribution. Wasn’t it always time for a total rethink on energy production and distribution not just now that the shit has hit the fan? One with a guaranteed better logical outcome for everybody? Common sense to the LNP seems to always be a Socialist plot.

Dump free-market and it’s private interests, propagandised mythologised as common, for a start. Energy should be socialised, free and common to everyone distributed as a basic need and equally allocated for a start. It should be nationalised from resource, production and distribution. Any payment system over and above a baseline should be determined according to ones means.

All energy companies and the system need to be totally integrated and regulated for both our and the planet’s betterment not simply owned by a powerful few. A common sense should prevail over any individual one. To say it can’t be done ignores the fact that it was done in the past during periods of war and national emergencies energy was socialised. Need came before profit dictated that private gain was last in line when it came to energy distribution. It was understood then that energy wasn’t a product best controlled by a free-market but regulated. It needed to be in a much fairer fashion the mechanics of which began with the war against Germany and Japan. Science, invention all our systems both economic and cultural changed and weren’t driven by business alone but rather a politics of common sense rather than individual interest. It’s been decades of the opposite with the LNP government mostly in power and we are all paying the cost through the nose for it not just those that profited.

Dutton now after only 2 months saying “stop talking the past just fix the problem” The problem being what he and the LNP spent a decade allowing to fester. Unfortunately, you can’t stop an avalanche or stampede in its tracks like Whitlam and Hawke did. Rudd and Gillard saved us from the GFC and history has shown us the ALP has always repaired the LNP’s mess and done the hard yards with the least amount of pain. While the LNP always operated on the race for profit allowing the nation to slide on every other social metric. The ALP remains dedicated to Democracy even if that means one arm tied behind it’s back and allowing idiots like Peter Dutton spout his inanities as opposition leader.

Key points:

  • Wholesale prices in the national electricity market averaged $264/MWh in the three months to June 30
  • The figure was twice the previous highest quarterly average and three times higher than a year ago
  • Surging wholesale power prices have sparked warnings that consumers face huge bill increases

Consumers warned of looming ‘nightmare’ as AEMO reports record wholesale electricity costs – ABC News

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We Can Free Ourselves from State Capitalism

Noam Chomsky: We Can Free Ourselves from State Capitalism

David Goeßm

Old Dog Thought- Repetitive patterns of behavioural Systems for the benefit of who? They can be changed not just allowed to continue to evolve.

Fighting Fake News with REAL 12/7/22; Private Surveillance System; Private Energy System; The Political System; Another Way; The Education System;

Lacking Energy? It’s Labor’s Fault Apparently… – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Sometimes I wonder why something that I see as a simple idea isn’t being suggested by people in public office. You know, simple things like – given the shortage of workers in some industries – why don’t we double the amount that the unemployed could earn before they lose any of their benefits? It would…

 It’s starting to sound all socialist and full of red tape and we all know that privatisation is the way to go because, hey, hasn’t privatisation worked a treat with all the areas where governments have privatised.

I’m trying to think of a specific example here, but I guess my trouble must be that there are so many of them,

Ah, Qantas. Once it used to be government-owned but now that it’s in private hands, they find your lost luggage much more efficiently because they’ve had so much experience at it…

All right, the Commonwealth Bank… Um, public transport?

Anyway, we know that it much be better because why else would governments keep selling off public assets to their mates?

Source: Lacking Energy? It’s Labor’s Fault Apparently… – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Energy crisis ‘perfect storm’ requires serious climate action

The State of Victoria

VOTERS will be looking for a party able to ramp up Victoria’s renewables capacity, provide transition certainty to energy workers in the Latrobe Valley, and prove to the world that our state is both serious and ambitious as a leader in meeting the global challenge to mitigate climate change.

Source: Energy crisis ‘perfect storm’ requires serious climate action

Ukraine War: Europe declares Independence of Russian Petroleum, Looks to Mass Transit, EVs to Achieve “Freedom” Goal

Reliance on Russian Oil will steeply decrease and be over by the next decade.

In the first quarter of this year, Volkswagen and Mercedes — German carmakers said that sales of their EVs spiked, and increased by 65% and 37% respectively. Tesla sales were up 80%. In fact, the rush to EVs now is no longer hampered by consumer hesitancy, but by supply chain problems caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The German government now backs the goal that all new car sales should be EVs by 2035.

Source: Ukraine War: Europe declares Independence of Russian Petroleum, Looks to Mass Transit, EVs to Achieve “Freedom” Goal

Fox News pushes “energy independence” 329 times in first two weeks of Russia’s war in Ukraine, shaping coverage of energy policy on cable news | Media Matters for America

energy_independence_fox.png

Angus Taylor gets his statements straight from Fox News and echoes them here. Liberal MP’s don’t do very much in the way of creative thinking about what might be the best for Australia do they?

From the outset of Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine, Fox News has been using the conflict as a pretext to agitate for the production of more oil and gas here in the U.S., which the network’s personalities and guests claim will lead to American “energy independence” – an outdated concept that right-wing media use as shorthand for increasing our reliance on domestic sources of fossil fuels, particularly during moments of global instability. In the first two weeks of the conflict from February 24 through March 9, “energy independence” or “energy security” were mentioned across Fox News programming at least 329 times, illustrating how pervasive the fossil fuel industry talking point is within the right-wing media landscape.

Source: Fox News pushes “energy independence” 329 times in first two weeks of Russia’s war in Ukraine, shaping coverage of energy policy on cable news | Media Matters for America

Europe is dependent on Russian Gas during Ukraine Crisis because it didn’t Ramp up Renewables Faster

If the crisis can wait four years, big increases in wind and solar power will replace most NatGas. The IEA site reports that, “The agency says that between 2020 and 2026, renewables will grow by another 60 percent to over 4,800 gigawatts, which is roughly the size of the capacity of all fossil fuel and nuclear [electricity] power plants combined. Over the next five years, renewables will capture 95 percent of the growth in the electricity sector.”

Source: Europe is dependent on Russian Gas during Ukraine Crisis because it didn’t Ramp up Renewables Faster

New study tallies up the billion-dollar benefits of electrical vehicles

For the Coalition LNP it’s a Sunday too Far Away prospect

Fully switching to electric vehicles within the next decade and a half could save Australians up to half a trillion dollars, new research suggests.

Source: New study tallies up the billion-dollar benefits of electrical vehicles

Why We Need Electric Cars: Climate-driven Hurricane Ida Knocked out Gulf Oil Production, 1/5 of US Refinery Capacity

Louisiana’s petroleum refineries are out of action in the wake of Hurricane Ida. Refineries run on electricity, and electricity has been knocked out in New Orleans and environs, perhaps for another couple of weeks. Here’s the kicker: Louisiana refineries account for nearly 1/5 of America’s refining capacity. Raw crude oil is just sludge, it is useless until it is refined. Then it becomes gasoline, diesel and other fuels.

Source: Why We Need Electric Cars: Climate-driven Hurricane Ida Knocked out Gulf Oil Production, 1/5 of US Refinery Capacity

Morrison government’s $600m gas power plant at Kurri Kurri not needed and won’t cover costs, analysts say | Energy | The Guardian

File photo of powerlines

A $600m gas power plant promised by the Morrison government is not needed and has no prospect of generating enough revenue to justify its cost, according to a new analysis. A report by Victoria University’s energy policy centre suggested the case for the Hunter Valley plant, to be built by the publicly owned Snowy Hydro with taxpayers’ funds, failed on several grounds.

Source: Morrison government’s $600m gas power plant at Kurri Kurri not needed and won’t cover costs, analysts say | Energy | The Guardian

The insane pinball game that masquerades as Coalition energy policy – » The Australian Independent Media Network

“The days of subsidies in energy are over, whether it is for coal, wind, solar, any of them,” the treasurer said. “That is the way I think you get the best functioning energy market with the lowest possible price for businesses and for households and that is what the national energy guarantee and our energy policies are designed to achieve.” Fast forward to this week when Keith Pitt, the minister for resources, water and northern Australia, blocked a loan for the Kaban green energy hub which had been approved by the Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility (Naif) in January. The blocked funding would have helped build a 157-megawatt windfarm and 100MW battery and included a 320km transmission line upgrade. Pitt’s reason for overruling the decision was that investment in “mature technologies” like wind and solar energy would be driven by the private sector whilst the government’s policy was to support dispatchable generation. I’m not sure what Mr Pitt thinks batteries are for.

Source: The insane pinball game that masquerades as Coalition energy policy – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Morrison’s media code could be catastrophic for climate and energy news – Michael West

Morrison’s media code could be catastrophic for climate and energy news – Michael West

Climate denial from Rupert Murdoch’s toxic Sky News, Buffy the Vampire Slayer from Junkee. This sort of “news” will be on display on Google News Showcase as a result of the government’s regressive new media laws. It is a travesty for journalism and dangerous to climate and energy transition, writes Giles Parkinson, founder of independent media site Renew Economy.

Morrison’s media code could be catastrophic for climate and energy news – Michael West

National Party waging war against Australian environment

THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA is reporting that the Nationals are revolting on climate change, demanding the new $1 billion Grid Reliability Fund be allowed to invest in coal and nuclear power.

National Party waging war against Australian environment

Germany names hydrogen the hero of its post-coal future

Germany's Minister for Research Anja Karliczek is leading the development of the country's hydrogen industry.
Germany’s Minister for Research Anja Karliczek is leading the development of the country’s hydrogen industry.Credit:Getty

Will Germany finally shake the LNP out of it’s sleepwalking dream about coal?

Australian wind and solar farms could help Germany phase out its use of coal under a major export deal which also promises to create thousands of new jobs. Europe’s largest economy has identified Australia as a potential supplier of the vast quantities of hydrogen needed to decarbonise its heavy industry in order to adhere to the Paris climate accord and to achieve Chancellor Angela Merkel’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

Germany names hydrogen the hero of its post-coal future

We are not facing an energy trilemma – » The Australian Independent Media Network

We cannot eliminate emissions entirely so we must be very selective in our activities so we can try to get back to a level that can be managed by the natural carbon cycle instead of powering on past saturation point.

The fools who say Australia’s contribution is negligible have obviously never done any titration – it’s that last drop that causes the reaction to happen.

In comparison, reliability and affordability of energy are miniscule issues.

via We are not facing an energy trilemma – » The Australian Independent Media Network

If Abbott and Kelly want to cross the floor, let them – » The Australian Independent Media Network

One of the most important roles of government is to prioritise. They must identify the challenges facing us and the consequences of inaction. They must rank the urgency of responding to problems and decide on the most efficient use of resources to address them.

The current debate about energy policy is a prime example of a government failing to do that.

via If Abbott and Kelly want to cross the floor, let them – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Tony Abbott fires warning shot at Coalition over energy policy

How Abbott, how conservative the policy has to be ” a point of difference” rather than any national Interest that needs solving. This response is so typical of why Captain Nope Abbott lead us in a race to the bottom when he was PM.Back then he did it with fake news and fully assisted by Murdoch’s News Corp. He’s not interested in problem-solving for a Nation just himself and his side, which are in fact one and the same. He took us to a place we hadn’t ever been before. A Global political outlier, a joke and yes he wants us back there today. Craig Kelly has taken the words from Abbott’s mouth. (ODT)

Liberal MP Craig Kelly also spoke during the Tuesday debate to argue that energy policy had to remain a point of difference between the Coalition and Labor.

via Tony Abbott fires warning shot at Coalition over energy policy

Climate wars have cost us the chance to lead

NEG’s new framework may raise costs, industry groups say

The climate wars between the major political parties have cost us a host of lost business and employment opportunities, even a global leadership role, and yet we drift on without an energy policy that might provide some relief to rising power costs and some strategy to meet our commitments to reduce emissions.

The government’s most recent policy, the National Electricity Guarantee (NEG), is the fourth most effective response, only being proposed after an emissions trading scheme, an emissions intensity scheme and Finkel’s clean energy target were sequentially rejected.

via Climate wars have cost us the chance to lead

Whyalla steelworks to be powered by $700m solar, battery and pumped hydro project | Australia news | The Guardian

Project announced after British billionaire Sanjeev Gupta chairs his first Zen Energy board meeting in Adelaide

Source: Whyalla steelworks to be powered by $700m solar, battery and pumped hydro project | Australia news | The Guardian

Letting Craig Kelly dictate energy policy is as stupid as letting Tony Abbott destroy the NBN – » The Australian Independent Media Network

The head of the misnamed Coalition backbench environment committee, Craig Kelly, has been all over the media with ever more strident calls to stop all subsidies to renewable energy. His argument, which has been adopted by that jellyfish Frydenberg, is that, if renewables are cheaper then they don’t need subsidies. On June 25, Mr Kelly…

Source: Letting Craig Kelly dictate energy policy is as stupid as letting Tony Abbott destroy the NBN – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Texas Wind turbines went right on Turning under Harvey’s impact, as Refineries Shut Down

Reuters quoted a market analyst as saying, “Imports can’t make up for this. . . This is going to be the worst thing the U.S. has seen in decades from an energy standpoint.”Not only is gasoline going to be more expensive as a result, but the pollution dangers from the damaged refineries are horrific.But guess what? Texas’s wind turbines weathered Harvey. Some were pushed to the max by its powerful winds, but they just went on making electricity! Turbines shut down if the wind is 55 mph or more, but most wind farms affected by Harvey were able to keep operating. One shut down because the electrical wires were knocked down, not because the turbines stopped working!. On an average day, Texas gets 20% of its electricity from wind. That only fell to 13% the day of Harvey’s landfall.

But guess what? Texas’s wind turbines weathered Harvey. Some were pushed to the max by its powerful winds, but they just went on making electricity! Turbines shut down if the wind is 55 mph or more, but most wind farms affected by Harvey were able to keep operating. One shut down because the electrical wires were knocked down, not because the turbines stopped working!. On an average day, Texas gets 20% of its electricity from wind. That only fell to 13% the day of Harvey’s landfall.

Source: Texas Wind turbines went right on Turning under Harvey’s impact, as Refineries Shut Down