Energy policy is linked to good health and so doctors are keenly interested. Secure energy supply is vital for the function of hospitals and necessary for home care.
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The use of fossil fuels for electricity generation causes air pollution and many deaths, suffering and heart and lung disease around Australia with huge cost to health services.
Tasmania uses fossil fuels for energy generation; it has a gas fired power station and it uses a proportion of main land coal generation via Basslink.
In reviewing the Interim report of the Tasmanian Energy Security Taskforce one might question why Tasmania is not self sufficient in renewable energy to enhance the clean green image of the state and to embrace energy security with self sufficiency.
Tasmania is in a fortunate position for energy resources with hydro power and unlimited opportunities to use renewable energy supplied by wind, solar and other modalities. The Report is confused and fails to offer leadership. It says:
“Hydro generation, Basslink and wind generation and the Tamar Valley Power station (TVPS) are all options that Tasmania is afforded as to how it meets current and future energy demands, but due to the variability of rainfall, water storages prevail as the most important factor in setting Tasmania’s energy security.”
One might ask “what has Tasmania been doing over the past 20 years to perform worse than some other states and countries less well endowed with resources?
The crisis from low water storage levels was compounded by exporting power for profit during the carbon tax era when climate modelling of rainfall pattern over many decades would have dictated prudence.
Emergency import of diesel was necessary at great cost.
The report turns to interconnectors for security:
… based on how interconnectors have performed historically in other jurisdictions, and having now experienced a six month outage there is sufficient evidence to consider a six month outage of Basslink to be a scenario to be planned for.
Then why negotiate for a second interconnector? What are the chances of two failing together? The report turns to gas for security. Again there is illogical thinking on this need:
… there is considerable uncertainty facing the market with respect to the adequacy of gas supply and its competitiveness.
Tasmania then enters into negotiation for a new contract. A doctor’s prescription for the woes of Tasmania would be as follows.
Add to the management structure a climate scientist to model water resources based on future climate projections, and examine and model all possible sites for wind and solar.
Also engage an outside energy expert with scientific prowess to examine storage needs for security, a lot of storage can be bought for a billion dollars, the cost of a new interconnector.
Finally, the most important health aspect. Medical opinion indicates climate change is the greatest health threat with this century.
Tasmania has the ability to help alleviate this by attaining carbon neutrality to add to its clean green image. There will be more innovation, security, and ultimately cheaper competitive energy.
The doctor’s prescription is to provide a plan.
Doctors for the Environment Australia’s submission to the Taskforce is http://dea.org.au/resources/submissions
- Dr David Shearman is the Hon Secretary Doctors for the Environment Australia.