 |
| The Hazelwood power station in Victoria - it seems the sun is setting on such energy suppliers. |
The government is armed with a raft of evidence – from
government agencies, the energy industry, business groups – that the
electricity sector is in chaos.
Ageing, failing coal plants are shutting down abruptly and
haphazardly – nine in the past seven years, with the giant Hazelwood station in
Victoria to join them in March. More will follow.
Wind farms are being built to meet a national renewable
energy target that was only ever designed to be a policy add-on. The target has
kept a growing industry alive – just, at times – but was never meant to drive
the change to a modern electricity scheme.
Read Adam Morton comment in today’s Melbourne Age - “Capitulation on climate change ignores evidence and will come at a cost.”
