3 CHEERS FOR A PROSPEROUS SOUTH AUSTRALIA

A prosperous future for South Australia lies in getting energy (electricity) costs down preferably by HALF what it is today i.e. down to 15 cents per kWh from the present 31 cents which has come about mainly by the Labor Government subsidizing wind farms and solar panels. Promoting wind and solar is a very expensive way of getting a dribble of "green electricity" often when you don't need it, and this must be stopped if we want a prosperous future.

We must preserve and modernize our existing coal-fired power plants at Port Augusta and expand production and development of our coal resources beyond the Leigh Creek operation. Shipping coal in from NSW or Queensland could be considered as a possible option.

A new Coalition Government for SA in March must stop the present Labor's idiotic unbridled promotion of expensive renewable energy projects. I hear that a $40 million grant is being considered for a FEASIBILITY study of a thermal solar plant for Port Augusta! It is high time these Green cowboys were given their marching orders out of our state so that a sensible energy policy can be followed exploiting our extensive coal and gas resources for electricity generation. Merry Xmas from Allano

Green electricity is TOO COSTLY for Africa (and Australia)

In today's "The Australian" newspaper there is an interesting article by environmentalist Bjorn Lomborg about the huge extra cost of providing electricity from wind farms and solar plants, compared to conventional power stations using coal. In South Africa coal powers 90% of electricity at a cost to the consumer of US 9 cents per kWh. It is easy and cheap to cut coal (particulate) pollution by 90% or more with scrubbers. CO2 emissions are considered to be beneficial to humanity and the biosphere.

However, in some other African countries, using a mix of hydro, gas and oil, in the grid/population centers in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Kenya the cost will likely be 25 cents per kWh. Lomborg concludes that for the forseeable future, electricity will be generated by burning fossil fuels.

Hydroelectric power stations are by far the best source of renewable energy and for some lucky mountainous countries hydro is the main power source eg New Zealand, Norway etc. However, South Australia where I live has no hydroelectric power stations, and has been UNfortunate to experience a decade of Labor Governments hell bent on making the State the leader of renewable energy in Australia. True, we have the most wind farms of any state (26 or more) and also the highest domestic cost of electricity at 31 cents per kWh because of this stupid eco-religious goal. The state elections are due in 3 month's time (March). Let's toss out this inept Labor Government of Premier Jay Weatherill and replace it with a Liberal Government that will STOP the wind farms and aid in development of our coal, gas and uranium resources for domestic power production. Merry Xmas from Allano

Barossa Wind Farm Project .. Get Lost

Pacific Hydro has planned a wind farm at Keyneton, South Australia. The site is located 6 km west of Sedan and 10 km SE of Angaston and runs about 15 kms North to South along the Mount Lofty Ranges. An application was submitted to the SA Development Assessment Commission (DAC) seeking approval of 42 turbines having a maximum height of 145.5 meters from the ground to the tip of the blade when vertical.

There were many objections by community groups in the Barossa Region with concerns about noise and health problems. The Labor Planning Minister John Rau says that the EPA studied noise levels and that there was no detectable concern, therefore approval has been given.

My advice to Pacific Hydro is to get lost and take all your wind farms with you. We don't want you or ANY of your wind farms (=WIND SCAMS) in South Australia.

Wind farms are just a scam that should NOT be allowed in South Australia. We should develop our extensive gas and coal resources for electricity generation and explore the use of nuclear power since in South Australia we have the largest uranium mine in the world. It is crazy of the present Labor Government to allow more wind farms to be built. Next March the state elections will allow the populace to vote out of office this Labor Premier Jay Weatherill and replace him and his hopeless Government with an adult and sensible Liberal Government. (Oz Liberal not US).

The new Coalition Government after March must stop all future wind farm developments and start to phase out Government subsidies to existing wind farms (ca 24) with the idea of demolishing them all within a decade. The turbines can be converted to scrap metal and their sites restored to the former pristine countryside. Wind farms need ca 100% backup by gas turbine generators so now electricity production will continued to be produced by burning gas and coal. The CO2 emissions are not pollution and will greatly benefit the biosphere and agriculture. A suitable goal would be to get the domestic price down to 20 cents/kWhr instead of the present 31 cents.

How to have a prosperous South Australia

20 20 Vision for South Australia: What goals are sensible for year 2020? How do we get a more prosperous SA and Australia when we have ever increasing power and water bills? The more we have to pay for utilities, the less money we have left over to pay for other goods, for fun things and luxuries (home, car, holidays etc).

To be more prosperous we MUST have the cheapest electricity and water possible. BUT the reverse is happening, noticed? The reason is that we have some very stupid politicians in Labor/Green Governments at the State and Federal levels following an anti-carbon eco-religious belief system.

In South Australia, let's have as a goal the cheapest electricity possible. First thing to do at the Federal level is to get rid of the RET bill, which specifies that 20% of our energy must come from renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydro etc. Renewable energy is good stuff, particularly hydro (none in SA), but the Greens are TOO impatient. Renewable energy will come gradually but it doesn't need subsidies from Government that distort the energy market.

In South Australia we must develop our coal and gas resources for power generation; coal for base load generation and gas for covering peak loads. There must be a STOP to any further Government subsidy of wind farms and any large solar plants (eg solar/gas plant at Pt Augusta) which are fundamentally unsound economically. Plans can be made for phasing out the worst and most inefficient wind farms and have the landscape restored to the original pristine state (good Green jobs here for redundant Climate Change bureaucrats). It will take a decade going in this new direction to get reduced power bills and a sensible energy policy established in this State.

More needs to be said regarding coal exploration and development and modernization of existing coal plants, and the possible role of nuclear power. That's enough for today, but then we are only half way to prosperity .... there is WATER to worry about and what a supply disaster that has been!!!!