Antinuclear

While he is careful not to dismiss renewables per se – despite calling them a “fad” – Canavan strongly implies that Australia’s energy future, at least in the short to medium term, lies in fossil fuels, one of the world’s most heavily subsidised industries.

It’s a surprising position for a National, much of whose constituency is at war with coal and coal-seam interests eating into their land, livelihoods and sustainability.

But, then, this narrative does tally perfectly with the Abbott Government’s stunning reticence to act on climate change.

The RET is costing households too much, he argues. Currently that figure is $105 a year, and falling. But several studies show scrapping the policy would produce only a small, short-term benefit and actually lead to higher power prices over the long term.

Even the Government’s own economic research agency, the Bureau of Research and Energy Economics, found that renewable energy would be among the cheapest of all forms of power generation within 20 years…….

Canavan is comparing renewables built in 2014 with coal plants that were built – mostly by state governments using public money – and paid off years ago. This also ignores the fact that the cost of building modern coal plants that comply with energy efficiency and emissions standards would be eye-watering.

It’s a lesson Germany has learnt as it decommissions its older coal plants and considers new forms of generation. Germany has trebled its share of renewable electricity since 2003, with more than 25 per cent of all electricity generated from renewables in 2013.

Also not mentioned is Australia’s soaring price for gas, one of the main alternatives to renewables…….http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/opinion-renewable-energy-fad-is-our-best-bet-for-saving-the-planet/story-fnihsr9v-1227180901016?nk=586f17321ea76df33e11a222095b3c3a