Australia's failed energy policy needs more than just a Band-Aid | John Quiggin

collected by :Victor Alphen

Certainly no one would disagree with:There are many causes of the current problems in the electricity market. It remains unclear whether an electricity auction market can produce adequate incentives for investment while generating appropriate prices for consumers. Unfortunately, these moments of clarity are the exception in the ACCC report. The report correctly finds that renewable energy policies have been only a marginal contributor to increases in the cost of electricity. Presumably the ACCC judged this to be the only politically realistic approach as long as Tony Abbott has this much control over energy policy in Australia.

This hated energy source is what the world needs to limit environmental damage from oil coal and gas

Which means the renewable system has to be supported by a supplemental load-following system, typically natural gas. By that measure, natural gas emits less carbon than coal and oil. Nuclear power has a double advantage over these other sources: it's both low-carbon and reliably baseload. Meanwhile, Germany is shutting down its nuclear power — 42% of its electricity now comes from coal, mostly highly polluting brown coal. In contrast to Europe and the U.S., Asia is experiencing a wave of new nuclear power development.

Nevada's lopsided energy mix needs renewable fix: Jenkins

as mentioned in Nevada's lopsided energy mix needs renewable fix: JenkinsDavid Jenkins | Reno Gazette JournalNewsyIn his opinion column ("Coal, nuclear power can save Americans from natural gas price volatility," June 24), Matthew Kandrach was correct to point out the risks to ratepayers of being too dependent on natural gas for electricity generation. Kandrach is also correct that the best safeguard against volatility in natural gas prices is diversifying the energy mix. NewslookHowever, Kandrach's suggestion that the answer is to diversify with coal and nuclear energy defies all logic — especially in renewable-rich Nevada. Due to market realities, electric utilities are moving away from coal and nuclear energy for power generation. On the other hand, these same market realities have prompted utilities to increase renewable energy production at a record pace.