Power station closure will be harsh, but there's a silver lining

Nicola Rivers - the closure of Hazelwood
 will be understandably distressing, but
it has a silver lining.

The announcement that Hazelwood power station is to close next year is understandably distressing to many in the Latrobe Valley. This distress is well founded. Although the announcement was predicted for many years, state and federal governments have done essentially nothing over the past five years to ensure a smooth and gradual transition for the people of the Latrobe Valley away from coal and into other jobs.

Although there is still time for that to happen, governments and Hazelwood's owner, Engie, will have to work rapidly and with strong commitment to ensure the community is properly supported into the next phase. However, despite the anxiety and disruption to the local community the retirement of Hazelwood may cause, there is a very large benefit whose impact will be felt immediately – the health benefit.

People that live within 50 kilometres of coal-fired power stations face a risk of premature death as much as 3-4 times that of people living further away. Coal-fired power stations emit a range of toxic substances that have serious impacts on the communities that live near them.

Read the piece by Nicola Rivers in today’s Melbourne Age - “Power station closure will be harsh, but there's a silver lining.”