The Prime Minister has declared he wants to make Australia the "affordable energy capital" of the world and says the system of promoting renewable energy is pushing up power prices.

Tony Abbott made the statement after one of Australia's largest power generators blamed increasing gas prices for its decision to close a major gas-fired station near Brisbane.

Stanwell Corporation will instead fire up a coal facility and sell the gas it would have used to generate electricity.

It has also reportedly called for the country's renewable energy target to be cut back, claiming it is distorting the energy market.

Mr Abbott says the Government review into the renewable energy target should come up with ideas to help bring power prices down.

"We support renewable energy, but I accept that the way the system works at the moment is putting upward pressure on power prices," he said.

"We've got a review of the renewable energy target coming up this year and I'll be asking that review to consider the impact of the renewable energy target on power prices and doing what it can to bear down on power prices."

He said Australia had "abundant" sources of energy and prices should not be as expensive as they are.

"We've got abundant coal, we've got abundant gas.

In the appropriate parts of our country we've got plenty of wind and we've got a tonne of sun.

"So we can be the affordable energy capital of the world."

Mr Abbott also said scrapping the carbon tax would assist in making energy cheaper.

How refreshing to have a PM that tells it like it is.

Yep..it makes more sense to throw billions of unfunded taxpayers dollars at the biggest polluters than to simply tax the polluters for using our atmosphere as an open sewer  ;D

bogarde73 wrote on Feb 6^th, 2014 at 2:48pm:

The Prime Minister has declared he wants to make Australia the "affordable energy capital" of the world and says the system of promoting renewable energy is pushing up power prices. Tony Abbott made the statement after one of Australia's largest power generators blamed increasing gas prices for its decision to close a major gas-fired station near Brisbane. Stanwell Corporation will instead fire up a coal facility and sell the gas it would have used to generate electricity. It has also reportedly called for the country's renewable energy target to be cut back, claiming it is distorting the energy market. Mr Abbott says the Government review into the renewable energy target should come up with ideas to help bring power prices down. "We support renewable energy, but I accept that the way the system works at the moment is putting upward pressure on power prices," he said. "We've got a review of the renewable energy target coming up this year and I'll be asking that review to consider the impact of the renewable energy target on power prices and doing what it can to bear down on power prices." He said Australia had "abundant" sources of energy and prices should not be as expensive as they are. "We've got abundant coal, we've got abundant gas. In the appropriate parts of our country we've got plenty of wind and we've got a tonne of sun. "So we can be the affordable energy capital of the world." Mr Abbott also said scrapping the carbon tax would assist in making energy cheaper.

Bogi,
The reason for increasing Energy Prices is that the major Global source (Fossil Fuels) is topping out and Supply is set to commence a Decline over the years ahead.

So, the only thing that would make Energy Prices decline, if only temporarily, would be a major Global Economic slowdown, which is very much likely to happen, But Prices would then start going up again, as the Supply short become readily apparent!

You seem to not have heard of the shale gas & oil revolution perceptions.
Of course there are other influences on energy costs than the renewable component, distribution costs being a major one, but nevertheless it is a positive note that we have a PM who does not try to sweep this under the carpet.
We've had enough of that in the past 6 years.

bogarde73 wrote on Feb 6^th, 2014 at 3:04pm:

You seem to not have heard of the shale gas & oil revolution perceptions. Of course there are other influences on energy costs than the renewable component, distribution costs being a major one, but nevertheless it is a positive note that we have a PM who does not try to sweep this under the carpet. We've had enough of that in the past 6 years.

On the contrary Bogi, you don't seem to have heard enough!

Abbotts one of these nutbags that thinks that dirty polluting fossil fuel will last forever  ;D

adelcrow wrote on Feb 6^th, 2014 at 4:36pm:

Abbotts one of these nutbags that thinks that dirty polluting fossil fuel will last forever  ;D

;D ;D ;D ;D So when's the coal going to run out piss head? ;D ;D ;D ;D

woody2014 wrote on Feb 6^th, 2014 at 4:39pm:

adelcrow wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:36pm: Abbotts one of these nutbags that thinks that dirty polluting fossil fuel will last forever  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D So when's the coal going to run out piss head? ;D ;D ;D ;D

When it's outlawed … as CFCs were for the greater good.

adelcrow wrote on Feb 6^th, 2014 at 4:36pm:

Abbotts one of these nutbags that thinks that dirty polluting fossil fuel will last forever  ;D

You'll be dead and gone before it runs out so why are you worrying?

____ wrote on Feb 6^th, 2014 at 4:41pm:

woody2014 wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:39pm: adelcrow wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:36pm: Abbotts one of these nutbags that thinks that dirty polluting fossil fuel will last forever  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D So when's the coal going to run out piss head? ;D ;D ;D ;D When it's outlawed … as CFCs were for the greater good.

;D ;D ;D An't going to happen poo pusher!

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Does Abbott include transport energy costs also. Will the government drop their taxing of petrol so to lower the cost of living pressures?



How real is abbott on reducing energy costs verses a witch hunt on competition from renewables to coal.

woody2014 wrote on Feb 6^th, 2014 at 4:45pm:

____ wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:41pm: woody2014 wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:39pm: adelcrow wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:36pm: Abbotts one of these nutbags that thinks that dirty polluting fossil fuel will last forever  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D So when's the coal going to run out piss head? ;D ;D ;D ;D When it's outlawed … as CFCs were for the greater good. ;D ;D ;D An't going to happen poo pusher! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Ontario, Canada Moves Toward Outlawing Coal Power Plants

http://www.triplepundit.com/2013/11/canada-takes-first-step-outlaw-coal-power-plants/


Coal Industry Cries Foul Over Obama Emission Rules

Representatives of coal-intensive utilities and coal-producing regions said that President Barack Obama would effectively outlaw construction of new power plants using the fuel with pending environmental rules.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-11/obama-said-to-ban-new-coal-plants-without-carbon-controls.html



It's beginning poo sucker !

Yay! The Infrastructure and Women's Prime Minister is going to make Australia The Affordable Energy Capital!  What a marvel of a man. He is going to put all those baddies in renewable energy into baddy houses.

Now let's all go back to sucking our thumbs because this d1ckhead seems to think we're all 1 year olds.

____ wrote on Feb 6^th, 2014 at 4:53pm:

woody2014 wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:45pm: ____ wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:41pm: woody2014 wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:39pm: adelcrow wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:36pm: Abbotts one of these nutbags that thinks that dirty polluting fossil fuel will last forever  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D So when's the coal going to run out piss head? ;D ;D ;D ;D When it's outlawed … as CFCs were for the greater good. ;D ;D ;D An't going to happen poo pusher! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Ontario, Canada Moves Toward Outlawing Coal Power Plants http://www.triplepundit.com/2013/11/canada-takes-first-step-outlaw-coal-power-plants/ Coal Industry Cries Foul Over Obama Emission Rules Representatives of coal-intensive utilities and coal-producing regions said that President Barack Obama would effectively outlaw construction of new power plants using the fuel with pending environmental rules. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-11/obama-said-to-ban-new-coal-plants-without-carbon-controls.html It's beginning poo sucker !

;D ;D ;D ;D

S T D's  will get you first   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

woody2014 wrote on Feb 6^th, 2014 at 5:01pm:

____ wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:53pm: woody2014 wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:45pm: ____ wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:41pm: woody2014 wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:39pm: adelcrow wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:36pm: Abbotts one of these nutbags that thinks that dirty polluting fossil fuel will last forever  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D So when's the coal going to run out piss head? ;D ;D ;D ;D When it's outlawed … as CFCs were for the greater good. ;D ;D ;D An't going to happen poo pusher! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Ontario, Canada Moves Toward Outlawing Coal Power Plants http://www.triplepundit.com/2013/11/canada-takes-first-step-outlaw-coal-power-plants/ Coal Industry Cries Foul Over Obama Emission Rules Representatives of coal-intensive utilities and coal-producing regions said that President Barack Obama would effectively outlaw construction of new power plants using the fuel with pending environmental rules. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-11/obama-said-to-ban-new-coal-plants-without-carbon-controls.html It's beginning poo sucker ! ;D ;D ;D ;D S T D's  will get you first   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Hoisting your white flag aye.

The economics of coal are doomed and abbott wanting to link australia to a doomed industry just reinforces what costello called him … an economic illiterate.

Costello calling anyone an economic illiterate . . . well, takes one to know one I guess.

bogarde73 wrote on Feb 6^th, 2014 at 2:49pm:

How refreshing to have a PM that tells it like it is.

I would have thought how disappointing to have a PM who is an idiot.

What is really pushing up the price of electricity in Australia???


Quote:

POWER bills are higher than they need to be because Western Power has been over-estimating how many "poles and wires" it needs to meet electricity demand, an industry expert claims.    The Barnett Government recently announced it was considering changing the way households are billed for electricity to help meet a revenue shortfall.

http://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/over-estimates-by-western-power-pushing-up-electricity-prices-in-wa/story-fnii5thn-1226686809408


Quote:

If any further evidence were needed to demonstrate how the power companies, both state-owned and private, have been foisting unnecessary price hikes on their customers, it can be found in the industry's own energy forecasts. Forecasts of demand for electricity have a significant impact on the price of electricity. The higher the forecasts, the more money earmarked by industry for network upgrades in order to cater for this supposed increase in demand. In turn, the higher the financial returns for the industry players. Ironically, as the transmission and distribution companies earn a regulated return on their assets, they have a perverse incentive to spend for the sake of spending.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/how-dodgy-forecasts-inflate-your-energy-bill-20120727-22xxf.html

Feel free to do your own research and discover the bullshit Abbott and Hunt are feeding you!!!

::) ::) ::)

All Fossil Fuels have already come under pressure, with the years since around 2000 seeing Production level out and in the years ahead we will see Production go into actual Decline.

In fact, Oil Production in Australia has already been in Decline, since around 2000 & since then, Oil Consumption has continued to increase.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BlNdzf8SdQ/TtxkHDgCLvI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/kbSSzLHEnV8/s1600/AustraliaOilProductionConsumption.PNG

In fact, Australian Oil Production has now Declined some 50%, since its Peak around 2000.

This means that we & many other countries, who are in a similar or worse position, we are now STUCK WITH IMPORTING LARGER & LARGER AMOUNTS OF OIL, FROM LARGER OIL PRODUCING COUNTRIES, SUCH AS OPEC.

However, as the following article shows, these countries are actually using larger & larger percentages of their Production for their own Consumption, WHICH MEANS THEIR EXPORT PRODUCTION IS GENERALLY LEVELING OFF OR SHRINKING.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Export_Land_Model

Therefore Supply & Demand laws have seen our Oil Energy Prices increase substantially since 2000.   

AND, believe it or not, a not to dissimilar process is underway in Coal, with estimates of how much Coal is left, far outweighing Reality, as the high grade coal is actually diminishing a lot quicker than generally acknowledged.
In addition, some 70% of Australian Coal is committed to "export" and that is likely to pick up, unless action is taken, as China's own massive supplies, are also set for substantial Declines & Japan is set to increase its take of Coal, as they get out of Nuclear Energy.

All of which means, large increases are likely in Australian Coal Exports, in the years ahead, which will put addition strains locally, because it will drive up local Coal Prices, still higher.

But, the real kicker comes in 10-20 years, when Australia basically runs of of Oil & becomes desperate for Coal, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT WE HAVE EXPORTED IT ALL & THERE'S STUFF ALL LEFT! 

No matter what anyone thinks of Politics, IF THE POLITICIANS CAN'T PROPERLY PROVIDE FOR THE LONG TERM FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY & THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN, THEN WE SHOULD JUST CONTINUE TO GET THE INCUMBENTS OUT OF THE WAY, UNTIL THESE SELF INTEREST CLOWNS LEARN THAT ITS ALL OF US, NOT JUST A FEW OF THEM, THAT'S WHAT IS VITAL!!!

Oh & I nearly forgot CSG & Fracking, which is totally oversold, as Production Peaks very quickly & within the decade most of the easy/cheap stuff will be gone and in any event there is a real interchangeability problem, in switch these major Energy sources, it either can't be done, the cost are prohibitive &/or the time lags are simply horrendous!

Cheers? 

woody2014 wrote on Feb 6^th, 2014 at 5:01pm:

____ wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:53pm: woody2014 wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:45pm: ____ wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:41pm: woody2014 wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:39pm: adelcrow wrote on Feb 6th, 2014 at 4:36pm: Abbotts one of these nutbags that thinks that dirty polluting fossil fuel will last forever  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D So when's the coal going to run out piss head? ;D ;D ;D ;D When it's outlawed … as CFCs were for the greater good. ;D ;D ;D An't going to happen poo pusher! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Ontario, Canada Moves Toward Outlawing Coal Power Plants http://www.triplepundit.com/2013/11/canada-takes-first-step-outlaw-coal-power-plants/ Coal Industry Cries Foul Over Obama Emission Rules Representatives of coal-intensive utilities and coal-producing regions said that President Barack Obama would effectively outlaw construction of new power plants using the fuel with pending environmental rules. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-11/obama-said-to-ban-new-coal-plants-without-carbon-controls.html It's beginning poo sucker ! ;D ;D ;D ;D S T D's  will get you first   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I would suggest MORE READING on the subject at hand, Woody & less abuse!

So, as demonstrated in the following post, Oil Production in OZ had Peaked & is in Decline.
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1391662139/19#19

Now, the leading Coal Producer is currently China.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_coal_production

But where is their future heading?
Well, I think that is best put by the following chart, which clearly says that Chinese Coal Production will only have a limited period of time, before it also starts to Decline.
http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4ced42deccd1d5191a0e0000-915/chinas-production-is-about-to-undergo-dramatic-shrinkage.jpg

And, what of the US, who are the 2nd great Global Coal Producer?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/US_coal_production_-_coal_type.png/800px-US_coal_production_-_coal_type.png

Well, it seems they have already Peaked!

So, what happens, when the Fossil Fuels Supply is disappearing, do we sit on our hands & wait until the Price goes thru the roo OR it is all gone, before we take action to replace it?

Who needs to worry about the future?

Fit of Absent Mindeness wrote on Feb 7^th, 2014 at 10:12am:

Who needs to worry about the future?

Well, I think it's Safe to say, THAT ALL POLITICIANS PUT THE PUBLIC'S FUTURE, QUITE LOW ON THEIR PRIORITY LIST!

Conversely, THE SHORT TERM INTERESTS OF ALL POLITICIANS & THEIR "BACKERS", ARE VERY HIGH ON THEIR PRIORITY LIST!

Add in a PM of limited intellect, few principles and weak and incapable of resisting pressure and you get a world beating, nation building, business, exports, health and education boosting communications network all but destroyed, big business interests given an easy ride and heaping handfuls of taxpayers’ money, a stubborn insistence on going back to the assumed simplicities and certainties of life in the 1950s.

Nothing at all about coping with the present and immediate past so troubles will be piled deep and high just a year or two ahead in the future.

Further to the Coal side of the Fossil Fuels Dilemma.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/US_coal_production_-_coal_type.png/800px-US_coal_production_-_coal_type.png

Anthracite
U.S. Geological SurveyAnthracite coal. Source: U.S. Geological SurveyThe highest rank of coal is anthracite, a hard black coal that burns with little flame and smoke, has the highest fixed-carbon content, 86–98 percent, and a heating value of 13,500–15,600 Btu/lb (14.2–16.5 million joules/lb).

Bituminous coal
U.S. Geological SurveyBituminous coal. Credit: U.S. Geological SurveyBituminous coal is a soft coal that produces smoke and ash when burned, has a 46–86 percent fixed-carbon content and a heating value of 11,000–15,000 Btu/lb (11.6–15.8 million joules/lb).
Bituminous coal is the most abundant economically recoverable coal globally and the main fuel burned in steam turbine-powered electric generating plants.

Subbituminous coal
Lignite coal that has been subjected to longer and deeper burial is converted to a darker and harder coal known as subbituminous coal.Subbituminous coal has a higher heating value than lignite. Subbituminous coal has a 46–60 percent fixed-carbon content and a heating value of 8,300–13,000 Btu/lb (8.8–13.7 million joules/lb). Although its heat value is lower, subbituminous coal coal generally has a lower sulfur content than other types, which makes it attractive for use because it is cleaner burning.

Lignite
Lignite, or brown coal, is the lowest rank of coal.  It has a 46–60 percent fixed-carbon content, but the lowest heating value, 5,500–8,300 Btu/lb (5.8–8.8 million joules/lb) of all coals.  Because of its low energy density, lignite coal is inefficient to transport and is not traded extensively on the world market compared with higher coal grades. It is often burned in power stations constructed very close to mines, so-called mine mouth power plants. Emissions from lignite coal fired plants are generally higher than for higher rank coal plants.

Peat
Peat is not defined as a coal, but it is an important early material formed in the coalification process. Peat is a soft organic material consisting of partly decayed plant matter together with deposited minerals. Peat forms in wetlands or peatlands, variously called bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peatlands are situated in wetland areas, primarily in the temperate and cold belt of the Northern Hemisphere, where large deposits developed from the gradual decomposition of plant matter under anaerobic conditions. Under the right conditions, peat is the earliest stage in the formation of coal.
http://www.theenergylibrary.com/node/12170

The best Energy return type of Coal is Anthracite, but US Production is virtually nil.
The next best  Energy return type of Coal is Bituminous coal, But Production of that has been in Decline, since around 1990.
The next best  Subbituminous coal and Productionl is Subbituminous coal and Production of that took off around 1970, quite possibly as Coal Producers saw the upcomig slip in Bituminous coal Production. However, it seems  Subbituminous Coal Production may also Peaked around 2007.
The least Energy return on real/aknowledged Coal is Lignite and Production of that has been & remains low.

What does all of this mean? Well, those types of Coal with the best Energy Value returns are in Decline, so it will take more of lower Energy value Coal to do the same job, which effectively means we pay more for the same job &/or we will simply pay higher prices, for those higher value Energy return types of Coal, as their Production Decline.

So, when is Tony going to slam the Fossil Fuels Decline and the problems that it is causing?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1/1798734_10152226142013216_589285207_n.jpg