Crikey.com.au
Wednesday 19/5/2010 Page: 1
Why was it important for Australia to put a price-ANY price-on carbon? The Australian has a compelling answer today: The head of one of Australia's leading power companies has argued that the collapse of an emissions trading scheme and the subsequent lack of a carbon price means that Australia's next baseload power stations are likely to be coal-fired.
Origin Energy chief Grant King told the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association meeting in Brisbane that having a renewable energy target of 20% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2020 "made no sense" without putting a price on carbon. He said a carbon price of $20-$40 a tonne would be required to start making a gas-fired power station more economically viable than one fired by coal. More dirty power generation - when Australia wants to lead the world in cleaning up its act.
Labor's emissions trading scheme was a deeply flawed mechanism. But it was a start. And as Malcolm Turnbull - burnt and bitter by the ETS experience-pointed out last night, while both parties can achieve short term emissions reduction targets they fail to "indicate a pathway to longer term emission reductions beyond 2020." Like Turnbull's prime ministerial ambitions, on climate change, we are nowhere.
Welcome to the Gippsland Friends of Future Generations weblog. GFFG supports alternative energy development and clean energy generation to help combat anthropogenic climate change. The geography of South Gippsland in Victoria, covering Yarram, Wilsons Promontory, Wonthaggi and Phillip Island, is suited to wind powered electricity generation - this weblog provides accurate, objective, up-to-date news items, information and opinions supporting renewable energy for a clean, sustainable future.
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