RHONDA Davies highlights a pertinent point in her letter 'Time to put a price and value on resources' (Guardian, October 13). Her key point is the growing realisation that climate change is going to affect us all more and more.
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Australia has an addiction to coal because it is cheap. If truth be told it is only 'cheap' because the costs of burdening the atmosphere with CO2 emissions have been externalised.
Now, with the costs of climate change starting to be realised, those externalised costs are starting to be called in. But it is not the coal companies, with their transfer pricing schemes and offshore bank accounts, that are paying these costs. It will be you and me.
The worst part of being ‘blessed’ with abundant coal deposits is that it has the effect of stifling any activity that would have us reduce our exploitation of the stuff.
Alternatives to burning coal exist and are, in our sun drenched land with abundant windy coastlines and open spaces, often cheaper. But, as has been pointed out, renewables do not provide at night and when the wind does not blow.
What is needed is 'capacitance', or storage. Batteries are expensive but are getting cheaper. Right now it does not make economic sense in a home situation but that will change in a few years. Pumped hydro works in some places, like Tasmania, will never be suitable in most mainland locations that are relatively flat and arid.
But there are a number of potential solutions ranging from under-sea pressure vessels to hydrogen storage.
My point is that research into a 'smart grid', storage schemes, and efficient houses and offices depends on a number of factors.
Firstly, we need intelligent, educated, and motivated people. My experience has shown me that Australia has this resource in spades.
Secondly, we need to use these people to research and develop these solutions. This can not be done when we cut funding to premier scientific institutions like CSIRO and push our best and brightest overseas. It also does not help when we have ignorant politicians who deny that there is even a problem.
And, finally, to return to my original argument, we need to recognise that we need to halt the development of any new coal mines, particularly thermal coal.
As our existing coal fired electricity plants reach the end of their lives over the next few decades we should aggressively pursue a policy of replacing them with a renewable infrastructure that does not pollute our atmosphere.
We owe it to our children.
Peter Sobey
Valla
Rude parker
THUMBS down to the male driver of a Subaru Forester who parked his car next to my vehicle at approximately 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon at the car park of the Nambucca Heads RSL. You carelessly dinted and scratched the rear passenger door of my new Commodore when you were getting something out of the back of your car.
In the event that you have a conscience and a sense of decency, I would appreciate you contacting me (via this paper) so the matter can be discussed further. Many thanks.