IN THE backlash against rising electricity prices, renewable energy has often been singled out as the convenient scapegoat, particularly by a conventional power industry keen to protect their economic position.

While the spotlight has been rightly applied to infrastructure "gold plating", the real issue is the corporate welfare doled out to profitable sectors.

Queensland is a prime example.

The coal and gas industries are rapidly expanding under archaic laws that give mining right of way over other land uses. Their development has not only faced far fewer restrictions but these industries have been greatly subsidised.

In his review of energy policy in Queensland, titled Clean Energy Pathways, Trevor Berrill has identified state subsidies to the coal and gas industry of at least $6.9 billion over the past years, including hundreds of millions of dollars for the development of the oxymoronic "clean coal".

Another $13 billion is to be spent on infrastructure to support the industry over the next 20 years.

By contrast, renewable energy and energy-efficiency industries have received about $900 million in the same period. The industry, however, still faces many barriers such as access to land for large-scale wind and solar thermal electricity projects.

Look deeper into the data and Queensland is just the tip of the fossil fuel subsidy iceberg.

In 2011, total fossil fuel subsidies by the Australian Government were calculated by the Grattan Wood Institute to be $12.2 billion. This compared with only $1.1 billion spent on climate policies, including support for renewable energy, in 2010-11.

In the previous three-year period, fossil fuel subsidies also outpaced funding for government climate change initiatives by $1 billion.

When federal and state subsidies are combined with the cost of pollution, every Queensland home is paying $3475 a year to use fossil fuels.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/come-clean-on-our-power-costs/story-e6frerdf-1226548472346


This week is showing us what a climate change impacted future will like.  WTF are we still paying $3475 each in subsidies just so Clive and his mates can get rich?  When the technology to replace all coal burning power stations exists today:


The Zero Carbon Australia project will consist of 6 transition plans covering the 6 sectors of energy, buildings, transport, land use, industrial processes and coal exports.

THe Stationary Energy Plan

•      Demonstrates that 100% renewable energy is achievable and affordable

•      Designs a fully costed and detailed system of concentrated solar thermal plants and large scale wind farms

•      Proves that with commercially available and proven technologies renewable energy can power Australia within 10 years
http://beyondzeroemissions.org/zero-carbon-australia-2020

It's always fear: people are scared to plunge into the darkness for good reason and leaders are the same. A good leader must make sure any change is sustainable!!

Yes shut down the mining industry and the State would have no blood sucking tax revenues to pay the dole, the bloodsucking public servants or to save the world from the sky falling in................ ::)

Swagman wrote on Jan 8^th, 2013 at 2:03pm:

Yes shut down the mining industry and the State would have no blood sucking tax revenues to pay the dole, the bloodsucking public servants or to save the world from the sky falling in................ ::)

Nobody is suggesting shutting down the mining industry.  Just wondering why tax payers money is being used to prop up  polluting and inefficient energy sources? 

Especially considering coal needs to be phased out anyway, given it's impacts on climate.  Even the Liberal Party accepts this too, which is why they propose the same emissions cuts as the ALP.  What are we waiting for?

-the right time!!

-all is a process: carbon pricing is here so it's not like we haven't made a start on the issue!

put the subsidies that go into coal into renewable energy instead and then lets hear the sceptics claim that renewable energy cannot compete .

Throwing taxpayers money at the wealthy while they dodge paying taxes is the way of the Libbos..just wait and see how much taxpayers money Phony Tony is gonna chuck at them when he rises to power  ;D

MONEY!

Where it goes to & who it goes to!