A few weeks ago this paper published an article by energy minister Mick de Brenni, praising the work of his team on the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.
I have a copy of the 58-page report which extols its attributes in expensive glossy colour. It seems more like a sales pitch than a genuine factual plan. It sounds too good to be true – and it is.
The article makes the claim three times that renewable energy is reliable, which is ridiculous.
By definition, reliable means dependable and unfailing. If there is no sunshine or wind, no power is generated. Adding more panels or wind towers just wastes more money.
At night there is no solar power and usually reduced wind power. Batteries can currently only provide very limited backup.
How can we operate a modern economy needing power 24-7 on ureliable renewable power?
The article made no mention of the estimated cost of the energy plan, but the Queensland government has made a commitment to spend 40 billion dollars, an unimaginable sum.
Millions of solar panels and wind towers would be imported (from China?) and 64% of the new jobs created by the plan would be only in the construction phase. Our modern economy needs 24-hour guaranteed power. The projected employment gains will not be achieved without reliable power.
There is no need for this grandiose plan. If we need more power, the obvious option is to build more reliable coal-fired power stations for a tiny fraction of $40 billion.
The state energy team and the Queensland government are apparently totally unaware of the energy crisis in Europe. Many countries are now regretting their heavy investment in wind and solar power and are being forced to reactivate closed facilities or restrict power availability. Industry is closing down.
If we are stupid enough to close down our coal-fired power stations our economy will collapse.
The state and federal governments must surely realise that coal and oil are not the cause of theoretical climate warming – 200 years of history has produced no warming. Carbon dioxide is just plant food and a miniscule four parts in 10,000 of our atmosphere with no influence on our climate.
Without coal and oil there can be no modern economy.
No oil means no planes, only coal-fired ships and no oil powered vehicles.
No coal means no production of glass, iron, aluminium or steel and no reliable 24-7 power.
Grand plans without realistic basis are irresponsible politicking, a waste of money and an insult to the voting public.
Philip Potter,
Mt Warren Park.
