Renewable Energy To Surpass Coal in the U.S.–But What About Australia?
Each of the 200+ sovereign nations that represent organized society on Earth have different histories, cultural values, and power structures that have evolved over hundreds, in some cases even thousands of years. Some of these cultures have seen brief times of enlightened government, where citizens were treated well, and moments of when liberty, equality, and fraternity have prevailed; however this has been anything but common. The normal state of affairs is the frustration of the will of the people by the control exerted by the few over the many.Though I’m certainly not an expert in Australian daily life, I have to think that it, currently at least, is an example of the phenomenon above, i.e., that the desire of the people themselves is not reflected in the decisions made by their government. I base that on this article that attempts to understand why Australia is so slow in following the direction America has taken, where renewable energy has surpassed coal for the first month ever. I find it impossible to believe that the majority of the people Down Under prefer dirty, planet wrecking and carcinogenic energy resources over clean ones.
Of course, this makes it sound as though we Americans are governed by Socrates, Jesus and Mahatma Gandhi, and this triumvirate is committed to giving us what we need to live healthy and prosperous lives. Wrong. We just happen to have natural gas coming out our ears and a robust renewable energy industry (primarily solar and wind) that is rapidly knocking coal out of our grid-mix via the forces of pure market economics. How much progress have we made getting Big Oil out of transportation? Virtually zero.
Craig,
” We just happen to have natural gas coming out our ears”
My goodness how you’ve changed your tune ! It seems like only yesterday since you were passionately railing against the evils of Natural Gas obtained by “fracking”!
Whatever happened to all that ardor about stopping the production of natural gas which was sure to destroy the environment ?
Whatever happened to the “Gasland “, crisis? A crisis that should have destroyed the USA long a go ?
Australia is, like Canada, a modern democratic, Constitutional Monarchy, elected parliament reflecting the “will of the people”.
I love the cute picture of the kangaroo, (although not so cute when in large and aggressive).
Australia is an excellent example of the dangers of thinking coal can be easily removed.
Australia is the world’s second largest LPG exporter, making domestic supply both expensive and restri8cted.
As in the US, Solar and Wind have proved to be problematic and inadequate both in generating capacity and economically. (without huge government subsidies).
In Australia, the subject of coal usage both domestically and for export is hugely controversial. Fantastic scenario’s and wildly exaggerated claims are made by the Australian Greens and socialist left, while failed Solar and wind projects are just starting to drive up energy prices, damage the economy and create shortages.
The Australian federal election is to be held on the 18 May 2019, with the accident prone, disunited conservatives predicted to lose to the centre-left labour party, who while not enjoying much popularity, will benefit from the an electorate tired of endless government infighting, internal warfare and accident prone leaders. (US Democrats take note).
Coal is once again becoming economically competitive on the global market as new highly efficient Clean Coal technology is slowly introduced, and future natural gas prices begin to rise dramatically with increasing demand from Asia.
By 2028, all major sources of natural fertilizer will be exhausted. Production of fertilizer from Natural gas will not only increase in demand but become an essential commodity for agriculture.
In 2017, the US consumed about 27 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas. Of that usage, only 34% was used to generate electricity.
That 34% represented 36% of US total electricity generation.
it doesn’t require any great commonsense to quickly realize that although the US has been very wasteful when it comes to burning natural gas.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO) has published many very alarming studies on diminishing sources of all ingredients involved in the production of large scale, economically viable fertilizer.
New emerging technology is emerging in coal producing nations like Australia. Technologies such as oxidative hydrothermal dissolution process invented by American scientist Professor Ken Anderson, and virtually banned by the Obama administration.
The process goes beyond coal-to-liquids fuel projects by using lignite and waste to create a low molecular weight organic compounds for bio-stimulant fertilizer liquid.
The coal is crushed, or waste sequestrated emissions is turned into slurry, then using waste recovered heat, subjected to pressure and liquefied oxygen in a process that is clean and recovers mostly water.
Early field trials conducted at application rates between five litres per hectare to 70L/Ha found rates of between 5-35L/Ha crops developing at around three times the rate of untreated control groups.
In the past, bio-stimulant fertilisers have been considered too expensive for anything but high value crops.
The really exciting news is this process generated as a by product of coal (or using low grade coal) as a feedstock reduces the costs by almost 90%!
Craig, I know you hate Coal, but the advent such amazing developing technology must excite even you.
I realize it’s hard to witness all your predictions and doomsday scenario’s crash and burn. It’s even harder when I know how passionately you believed in your cause.
I sincerely empathize.
However, at some stage you must stop living in a delusional past, and look at the exciting new directions new clean tech is headed.
You really shouldn’t just hide and refuse to accept new developments. It’s important to take part in the discussion or be left behind.
The US economy is really booming, even I’m astonished at the depth of recovery.
Wages growth is finally occurring, and among the people who need it most. The great beneficiaries of the “Trump Economy are the average American. Blue collar Americans. Especially, black and Hispanic woman.
7 million Americans have re-entered the work force. More importantly these are private sector jobs. This has happened as the administration is shedding government jobs and reducing the public payroll.
That’s and estimated $400 billion increase in government revenue and a huge saving in healthcare, welfare, law enforcement, etc.
A fast growing economy, with solid higher productivity, non-inflationary wages growth, can re-invest in becoming even more competitive and in time begin to retire the National debt.
Hating President Trump isn’t enough excuse for the Democrats to sabotage American prosperity. The US media, with the exception of Fox and the financial press, has barely covered the amazing economy.
Joe Biden made the mistake of asking people if they were bettor off under the Trump Presidency.
Sometimes politicians ask questions they should ask. His words had great impact, unfortunately not in the way he intended.
Immediately after his heavily publicized speech, the polls recorded a massive upswing in the Confidence America feels about the economy, and a rise in the polls for President Trump.
It’s time for all Americans, to put all the toxic political behavior behind them, and as the President said in his Prayer Day Speech, turn a new page and start to work together to take advantage of the best economy in living US memory to solve the other problems confronting the nation.
Congress and the Administration has shown this can occur, in the recent infrastructure proposal talks, both sides showed pragmatism can win over bitter partisan grandstanding.