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Midfielder

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Paul01

Paul01

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Here's a story on the potential for failing power prices

Electricity prices forecast to fall 2.1% in two years due to wind and solar

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/21/electricity-prices-forecast-to-fall-21-in-two-years-due-to-wind-and-solar?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

But the price reduction will never happen and here's why.

Last year,  the Australian Energy Market Regulator recommended a 20% price reduction and was to be be put in place. Then the various network companies (mostly owned by State Governments) appealed against the reduction in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal AND WON AN INCREASE of some 20%

It was a fact last year that the contract for electricity to Sydney Trains expired and a 40% increase in electricity prices. So the NSW Treasury shot themselves in the foot. 

The biggest problem with alternative energy are the personal networks ensuring that prices continue to rise to support their greed and political hangers-on.

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Midfielder

Midfielder

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16 hours ago, Paul01 said:

Here's a story on the potential for failing power prices

Electricity prices forecast to fall 2.1% in two years due to wind and solar

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/21/electricity-prices-forecast-to-fall-21-in-two-years-due-to-wind-and-solar?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

But the price reduction will never happen and here's why.

Last year,  the Australian Energy Market Regulator recommended a 20% price reduction and was to be be put in place. Then the various network companies (mostly owned by State Governments) appealed against the reduction in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal AND WON AN INCREASE of some 20%

It was a fact last year that the contract for electricity to Sydney Trains expired and a 40% increase in electricity prices. So the NSW Treasury shot themselves in the foot. 

The biggest problem with alternative energy are the personal networks ensuring that prices continue to rise to support their greed and political hangers-on.

We need some big sticks to belt these guys ... as an aside and remember Mr Coal himself SoMo may have in trying to kept the debate away from alternative may and may is the right word done a good thing with his big stick approach to the energy companies...

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Paul01

Paul01

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16 minutes ago, Midfielder said:

We need some big sticks to belt these guys ... as an aside and remember Mr Coal himself SoMo may have in trying to kept the debate away from alternative may and may is the right word done a good thing with his big stick approach to the energy companies...

Should be taking a big stick to the legislation that allows appeals against price drops.

A big stick or a baseball bat is required for the NSW Treasury 

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wendybr

wendybr

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On ‎19‎/‎12‎/‎2018 at 11:55 AM, Midfielder said:

MUST SHARE AND WATCH ... its long over 20 minutes but this is adds a lot to the debate 

 

 

Watched half a few days ago - and just finished this.

Wow - you're right Middy - how good is that? 

Thanks for finding and posting so much interesting material here ! :good:

And it's so right about the position of the US.....formerly a "can-do"  nation, but now, just stepping aside to allow China to take over in the new wave of technology that the world is demanding.

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Midfielder

Midfielder

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In 1859 the world was a far more religious place.  Much more conservative than today. Today we have a far more secular society.

In 1859 an event took place where an author published a book, he was scared to publish. The author feared  he may be attacked by conservatives of the day.

The author was wrong, Charles Darwin in 1859 published “” On the Origin of Species””’ .  By  1870 after much debate in a highly religious and conservative world his theory was accepted. 

Scientist of the world in the 1860’s and people in general were able to set aside their long held beliefs and accept the evidence before them and hhhhmmm aarrrggg simply accept that Darwin had carried out detailed studies. 

In terms of evidence, Darwin to the general public and to other scientist could offer  little other than his notes. 

Today we have a far more secular society, with access to huge amounts of evidence. 

Yet today, conservative voices deny Darwin and insist on createism has been taught at school. 

Many of these same voices, argue against climate change and argue against alternative energy systems. 

So how did it come to pass that today’s conservatives or many of them have decided that science and logic and today financiers, cost engineers, etc make no sense and are all part of some super conspiracy. 

 I am at a total lost.

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Midfielder

Midfielder

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It’s Monday afternoon and the main street of Morwell, in the Latrobe Valley, is bustling. The shops and cafes on Commercial Road, the Latrobe Valley town’s main thoroughfare, are full of busy people with start-of-the-week purpose.

In the background, the Morwell and Hazelwood power stations are an imposing reminder of the recent past of a town with the main purpose of feeding electricity to Melbourne and in the process providing hundreds of jobs to locals.

The last puff of coal-fueled smoke left Hazelwood’s chimneys almost two years ago when the power station closed. Many expected the last puff of life from the town would go with it. But Morwell has surprised those who thought a major downturn was on the way. Not only has it survived, it is now starting to thrive.

Next door to the busy Commercial Road cafes, Donna Hicks runs her business Dear Delilah Florist.

Morwell Donna Hicks of Dear Delilah Florist. Photo: Leigh Henningham
 

Ms Hicks used to run her business from home, but a year ago she became so busy she decided to move to a shop front on the main street. Many questioned her decision, especially after Hazelwood’s closure.

“When I opened it had been the first anniversary of Hazelwood closing,” Ms Hicks said. “A lot of people were asking ‘how I was going to go?’,” she said.

She wasn’t worried. As a florist of 20 years’ experience, she knew the ups and downs.  Ms Hicks said business had been constant, thanks to the many weddings she was providing arrangements for. Her decision to add a gift shop element to the business had helped foot traffic from locals and workers from the new offices opening in town.

A state government hub has already seen workers from a new power source — Solar Victoria — start in the area. There are also big plans for other government bodies including a forensics hub.

“Everyone is going well in town now,” Ms Hicks said. “I grew up here. I’ve seen the decline, and it’s getting back up now.” 

Chris Davis, director of Morwell real estate agency KW Davis, agrees. He said the property market has been surprisingly busy despite Morwell’s recent turmoil of a major fire at the Hazelwood mine in 2014, followed by the closure of the Morwell and Hazelwood power stations.

“When Hazelwood closed we definitely got busier,” Mr Davis said. “We expected it to drop.”

Morwell Director of KW Davis Real Estate Chris Davis outside a property for sale in Morwell. Photo: Leigh Henningham

Domain data shows Morwell house prices rose by 2.1 per cent between September 2017 and 2018. The median house price now sits just under $200,000. While it is still one of the cheapest towns in Victoria to buy, it might not be for much longer.

Mr Davis said the local market had been buoyed by an influx of retirees looking for a relaxed lifestyle and a property bargain not too far from Melbourne. There’s also the lure of the Gippsland coastline and the snow (Mount Baw Baw) both within a short drive of Morwell.

They’re some of the reasons Mr Davis, who has worked in real estate for the past 30 years, has stayed near Morwell where he was born. He currently lives in the lush, green surrounds of Traralgon.

“I like where I am. It’s a legitimately good place to live,” Mr Davis said.

“It’s great, but like everywhere it has its moments,” he added.  “This town is like mini-Melbourne. We’ve got our mini Braybrooks and our mini Brightons.”

Morwell’s proximity to Melbourne was one of the reasons retired cleaners Derek and Lyn Cramer moved to the area from the Mornington Peninsula and Warracknabeal in September.

The Cramers wanted to be closer to family which includes their three children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who live in Cranbourne, Altona and Preston.

They also wanted a country lifestyle, so bought a brick AV Jennings home in Churchill. The home was originally built in the 1960s for Hazelwood’s workers.

“We sort of gave the cleaning business to the kids and we moved away because if we didn’t, we would still be cleaning,” Mr Cramer said with wry smile.

“We can take the dog for a walk and there are nice big parks to do it. You’re not walking around the cricket ground,” Mr Cramer added. “It’s close to everything. We can still drive our caravan around [for trips around the Latrobe Valley] and there are lots of trendy cafes.”

Morwell Morwell: Photos by Leigh Henningham. Lyn and Derek Cramer with dog Max at their home in Churchill.

The couple is looking forward to becoming more involved with the Morwell community, with Mr Cramer interested in helping out with the local football club.

Sitting in a semi-formal meeting room in the council’s headquarters in Morwell, Crs Middlemiss and McFarlane have spent time recently reflecting on how resilient the town has been.

“It’s a lot different to what you would expect when your major employer closes,” Cr McFarlane said.

Morwell celebrated its first rose festival in the Morwell Centenary Rose Garden in November with an estimated 3000 people visiting to see the beautiful blooms.

“The town’s spirit didn’t die. The fact is lots of jobs went, but it didn’t knock the town about anywhere near as people thought,” Cr Middlemiss said.

The challenge for Morwell the councillors said was moving on from coal burning to other industries. “Brown coal power generation economy is on its way out,” Cr Middlemiss said. “We have to transform our economy to find alternatives,” he said.

Cr Middlemiss said about 150 jobs would be created through the state government hub.

Morwell Latrobe City Councillor Alan McFarlane and Mayor Graeme Middlemiss at the Morwell Rose Garden. Photo: Leigh Henningham

“The government has just announced this electric vehicle delivery factory for 100 jobs. We’re still chewing on the detail to be honest,” Cr Middlemiss said.

The local paper mill is also transforming its business. It is looking to use a byproduct of paper manufacture, which it used to burn to power the mill, to make carbon products like kevlar instead. It will burn rubbish from Melbourne to power the mill with the EPA recently approving the move.

For now, the focus for the council is not only job creation, but expanding housing development in the area now the power stations have closed.

“We’re preoccupied because we’re having some parking problems, some major parking problems which are signs of increased activity,” Cr Middlemiss said. “We need another 400 additional car parks for Morwell. 

“These are the subtle indicators where you think: ‘we haven’t fallen as much as we thought because activity is increasing and therefore car parking problems are increasing’.” 

Cr Middlemiss said the council is talking to the state government about the current coal buffer restrictions. They have been in place to stop houses being built close to power stations and mines. Since Hazelwood has closed, there is now an opportunity for the town to expand.

The council is also working with the state government and Hazelwood’s owners, including company Engie, on exactly what will happen to the power stations that are so much a part of the town’s past (and views). The old buildings will be torn down and there are several ideas for the area building a possible leisure centre, amphitheatre or equestrian centre.

“Or it could just be a blank palette,” Cr Middlemiss said.

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Midfielder

Midfielder

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When I watched this doco I felt joy in what very poor people and a poor country was doing... and not anger but a reflective sadness that our media in particular the ABC don't show things like this instead they concentrate on trying to make people look bad ...

I found this to be humbling experience and the ""green mosque program"" unbelievably clever ..

This would be so good for students across a range of subjects ... for those with the time hope you enjoy...

 

 

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