In “100%” Renewable Canberra people are queuing to hang out in warm libraries, and the air is more polluted
Kill trees, pollute the air, punish the poor
The Australian capital city Canberra in midwinter is often minus 1 to 5 degrees C in the morning. Australian homes can get very cold and with heating bills rocketing, things are defacto becoming like life in Berlin, which is in a pre-War energy crisis footing. No one labeled Canberra public halls as “warm spaces” and they definitely aren’t open at night (it’s the public service!), but crowds are arriving at libraries just to escape the cold.
The ACT Government are a Labor-Green alliance, and are proudly, exuberantly “100% Renewable”, but won’t dare cut the cord to the coal plants that keep the lights on, making the claims of being 100% renewable a form of 100% false advertising. Even the ABC admits that the ACT itself only generates 5% of its own power, and 80% of the energy coming to the ACT through the wires is from fossil fuels. They pay off some wind farms in other states to balance the GWh Renewable tallies, but of course, ignore the hidden costs — the free backup and stability that the coal plants provide.
The local newspaper is running stories about the “right temperature” to heat homes to. They suggest 18°C (colder than the public buildings in Germany which are now set down to 20°C). A few years ago I stayed with a friend in Canberra and the room was 11°C (and it was only May!). Thanks to “progressive” energy policies, despite all the hi-tech solar panels, and deals with wind farms 1000km away, Canberran’s are rediscovering the joys of wood fires. Though this has predictably increased actual air pollution.
https://joannenova.com.au/2022/08/in-100-renewable-canberra-people-are-queuing-to-hang-out-in-warm-libraries-and-the-air-is-more-polluted/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-100-renewable-canberra-people-are-queuing-to-hang-out-in-warm-libraries-and-the-air-is-more-po
