Guest essay by Eric Worrall
h/t Waza; That hilarious moment when coal haters realise their necks are on the block if the power grid fails repeatedly during Summer heatwaves.
Australia proposes revenue top-up scheme to keep Alcoa Portland smelter open
MELBOURNE/BENGALURU (Reuters) – In a push to keep Alcoa Corp’s Portland aluminium smelter open, Australia’s government has offered to ensure the smelter earns at least A$76.8 million ($57.9 million) through June 2025 for reducing its power usage and helping to prevent blackouts.
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Alcoa has long said the smelter needs cheaper, more reliable power to stay open beyond 2021.
The smelter in the city of Portland is the biggest single power consumer in Victoria, accounting for about 10% of state consumption. It plays a major role in balancing power supply and demand during heatwaves and other disruptive events.
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The smelter has suffered from power disruption in recent years as the grid struggled with transmission problems and the unreliability of ageing coal-fired plants as well as weather-dependent wind and solar power generation, especially during heatwaves. Still, such is its demand that its closure could have knock-on effects across the power generation industry.
“If Portland were to close, it would risk the reliability and security of the grid, and may lead to the early closure of one of the coal-fired generators the state relies on for much of its power,” Education Minister Dan Tehan, who represents the region where the smelter is located, said in a statement.
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Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/news/australia-to-step-in-to-support-alcoas-struggling-aluminium-smelter/ar-BB1bTxu4
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan, one of the sponsors of the rescue package, wasn’t nearly so supportive of aluminium smelters and coal when he spoke of the need to transition in February;
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Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan dismissed the idea of there being a divide over climate change on his side of politics.
“I think we have got a clear path going forward,” he told Sky News.
“Everyone knows that the economy has to transition.“
That transition must protect the economy and jobs.
“We all know that if we tank the economy … that reduces emissions but it would destroy jobs,” he said.
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Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6621100/coalition-still-infighting-on-climate-alp/?cs=14231
What a mess. Successive governments have subsidised renewables and created a hostile business environment for coal and energy intensive businesses.
Yet when coal plants and energy intensive businesses take a rational decision to depart, because they no longer feel welcome, suddenly politicians realise then need them, and fall over themselves to hand out even more subsidies to convince them to keep operating, at least until renewables providers solve their reliability issues.
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‘It plays a major role in balancing power supply and demand during heatwaves and other disruptive events.’
Yes, they have to turn the smelter off at times of peak/excessive demand, e.g in heatwaves. If the plant closes, they’ll surely have that extra power all the time? Or not need the coal plant?
The ignorance of griff, to the fore as always
No dumb-nuts.. If there isn’t that requirement for a continued large load, it is likely that suppliers of RELIABLE electricity would become financially non-viable.
Then , when there is no wind
You are left with NOTHING.
Basic comprehension is one of you many zero-skill areas, isn’t it griff-fool. !
The best policy is to force the changes now , allow the smelter to close, bring about a collapse of the energy system and cause mayhem with blackouts and rising energy costs. When confronted with the reality of the truly insane policies that influences all governments is the only way the message that the voters have been telling them for the last 4 elections will sink in. The majority of people don’t agree with all the climate change alarmism nonsense and unless the government is prepared to listen to them they will find someone who will.
OT: has anyone else been having problems receiving emails, specifically on gmail? I haven’t gotten one from WUWT in about 24 hours, even thought I’m subscribed to 3-4 active articles.
Posting this as a test to see if I get the “confirm” email.
Did not receive it.
A similar situation could be created by oil companies, by suspending fuel deliveries to those areas ruled by the Green madmen (and madwomen). Just a 7-day suspension should be enough to see the whole population suddenly in favour of realism and against the Green idiots. I’d love to see that, and who could blame the oil companies after years of uninformed criticism from the technically incompetent?