Asking the question on coal transition
An open letter to Hon Angus Taylor, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Dear Angus,
On Wednesday, July 24 I attended a seminar at the ANU: "Coal Transition: Power Sector, Regional Adjustment and Policy" at which there were 18 speakers including relevant Professors and Research Fellows from the ANU, Newcastle and Melbourne Universities, senior representatives from AEMO, The Next Economy, the Institute for Sustainable Futures, Unions and from regions of Australia which will be affected by the transition from coal-fired to renewable sources of electricity.
It was totally agreed that, given the GigaWatts of utility scale renewable projects being built in the foreseeable future by the private sector, if Australia started investing now in sufficient Pumped Hydro, Lithium Ion Batteries and Concentrated Solar, then by 2045 all of Australia's coal-fired powers stations could be closed and yet there would 100 per cent dispatchable power: the lights would NEVER go out....and... there would be 25 years in which to plan and manage the careful and caring career transitions for the redundant power station workers.
As Minister for Emissions Reduction, I presume you have looked at such a policy? If not, then I presume you have a policy that will remove all emissions from the Australian electricity sector even earlier than 2045.
If so, what is it?
Ed Suttle, President, Community Energy for Goulburn
Thanks for the care
I write to you to express my appreciation to the Crookwell community during my time in hospital.
On May 13, I suffered two cardiac arrests at Crookwell Hospital. I was airlifted to St George Hospital where I was treated in ICU and Cardiology. I was later transferred to Goulburn Base for rehabilitation. I was released from hospital three weeks ago and have been convalescing with family in Goulburn and Crookwell before I return home to Peelwood.
There are many people to thank, but in particular I would like to extend my gratitude to the following: the staff at Crookwell District Hospital for their outstanding care, without whom I may not have lived; the Crookwell Community Trust for their generosity in my time of need.
To everyone who supported me and my family during this time. To those who rang, stopped family in the street to ask how I was, for the cards, for the prayers and best wishes.
On behalf of myself and extended King Family, thank you all.
Kevin King, Peelwood
Here's my theory
(Regarding the Home Sweet Home shop closure), I know nothing about the business or the owner.
Here are some observations about Goulburn that would lead anyone to think a business opening there should be successful. New housing estates are being approved and built all over town. Teneriffe, The Tillage, Ravensworth Heights, the old Drive In, and behind the Coles Servo in Clinton St as well as the Old St Pat's and Marian developments.
New houses mean new people... New people means money should be being spent in the town even if the people work out of town.
So my question is where are the people coming from and why, and, if they are coming to Goulburn why are so many shops like Harris Scarfe, Factorie, Target (rumoured and denied) closing?
The problem is new business opens, creates some jobs, people have expectations of work, start buying things or maybe even saving for a house, the business closes, they lose their job and go into the ever increasing number seeking fewer and fewer jobs.
I am not an economist but it seems to me that there is a problem here that is not unique to Goulburn but one which lots of experts ought to be turning their attention to. Perhaps this is a job for our elected members. That is why we elected them.