Our ETS Future 'Will Not Come Cheaply

AUSTRALIA will be unable to produce affordable baseload power supplies while meeting its emissions targets under present policy, new research has found.

A study by Melbourne's Grattan Institute, to be published today, warns that while carbon pricing will help make low-emissions technologies competitive, it will not be enough without big structural and policy changes.

Tony Wood, the institute's energy program director, says governments face "an acute intellectual and policy challenge" steering a course between inadequate support for low-emissions technologies or unduly favouring one technology over another. He cautions "Australia's move to a low-carbon future will be too expensive unless they do."

The Grattan research stresses markets as the primary mechanism by which Australia can reduce its emissions, but it says markets cannot work properly unless governments optimise regulatory and policy frameworks.

The study also warns against letting ideology limit the scope for manoeuvre by preventing serious evaluation of carbon capture and storage and nuclear energy. "A range of technologies available today can generate electricity at or below 0.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour and have significant scale-up projection," the Grattan research finds.

"Yet none currently represents more than 2 per cent of Australia's electricity supply and

their future technical and economic potential is shrouded in uncertainty."

The report finds further refinement of the underlying technologies of low-emission energy options will be the most important tool for their future development and commercialisation.

It reminds governments of their roles overseeing the development of new transmission networks and pipelines, resource maps, market frameworks, regulations and engineering skills.

The Grattan researchers urge the commonwealth to ensure the carbon pricing scheme works properly by setting long-term emission caps and call on all governments to act to ensure there is a level playing field for all power-generating technologies.

The report's authors urge the removal of obstacles that impede technologies such as wind and geothermal from connecting at large-scale to electricity grids built around the needs of very large fossil-fuel plants.

Our ETS Future 'Will Not Come Cheaply

OneSteel Gets $64m Ahead of CarbonTax

MANUFACTURER OneSteel will receive $64 million to help it prepare for the introduction of the Federal Government's carbon tax in July. 
 
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet announced today that the advance payment had been finalised under the government's $300 million Steel Transformation Plan (STP).
OneSteel expects to receive the payment within 30 days and it will be recorded as income in the company's financial statements for fiscal 2012.

Labor finalised a similar $100 million advance to BlueScope Steel in December.
"The assistance provided to the Australian steel manufacturers will help OneSteel and BlueScope to adapt and modify their business models to ensure their long-term sustainability in a low carbon economy," Mr Combet said in a statement.

OneSteel chief executive Geoff Plummer told the stock exchange the company was "pleased with the government's interest in steel manufacturing in Australia" and welcomed the funds.

The STP, announced in July 2011, was intended to help steel makers adjust to the government's carbon tax, which will start with a fixed pollution price of $23 a tonne.

But the advance payments will also help OneSteel and BlueScope deal with the high Australian dollar, weak domestic demand and excess supply in international steel markers, Mr Combet said.

Labor's $300 million STP was passed by the Parliament in November alongside the 18 carbon tax bills.

The impact of the carbon price overtakes Australians' main concern, Loan Market online survey reveals

CONSUMER worries about interest rates have been overtaken by concerns about the impact of the carbon orice and utility costs on household finances.

An online survey conducted by mortgage provider Loan Market shows 39 per cent of respondents nominated the carbon tax as their biggest financial concern for 2012, while 30 per cent nominated utility costs.

Of the 484 respondents, 21 per cent said interest rates would have a negative impact, while just 10 per cent said fuel prices.

What costs are hitting you the hardest? Take our Cost of Living survey below.

"Even though it does not come in until July 1 next year, the majority of our respondents cite the carbon tax as their biggest financial concern for 2012,'' Loan Market chief operating officer Dean Rushton said today.

The survey also found Gen-Yers were more concerned about the carbon price, with 51 per cent of respondents in that age group saying it would have the greatest negative impact on their finances.

But consumers were less concerned by interest rate rises, after the Reserve Bank of Australia in November cut the cash rate for the first time in more than two and half years.

"There is no doubt in that they will need to cut further to continue to shore up confidence in the current global environment,'' Mr Rushton said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/money/money-matters/the-impact-of-the-carbon-price-overtakes-australians-main-concern-loan-market-online-survey-reveals/story-e6frfmd9-1226195967052#ixzz1d1wqsx1G

Many Would Back Repealing Carbon Price

Half the country supports Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's stance that he would overturn the carbon pricing scheme should the coalition with the next election, a news survey shows.

The weekly online Essential Research survey released on Monday shows the prospect of a coalition election win remains clear cut, with only a minor increase in support for Labor recorded in the latest week.

Labor support among voters rose to 45 per cent from 44 per cent last week on a two-party preferred basis, compared with 55 per cent for the coalition, down from 56 per cent previously.

Fifty per cent of the 1053 respondents supported Mr Abbott's stance that he would repeal the carbon price legislation on winning power, while 36 per cent said they opposed such a move.

Emotional PM Defends Carbon Tax Plan

The Prime Minister Julia Gillard became emotional today during an address to the National Press Club, on the Government's carbon tax plan. Ms Gillard's voice wavered as she talked about her nature of being a shy, reserved school girl. But she was unwavering in her answer to what she thought of the reporting of her Government's carbon pricing plan.

Listen to Julia Defend her Carbon tax position regardless of how unpopular it is:

Julia Justifying her Unpopular Carbon Tax

Alan Jones speaks to Lord Christopher Monckton about carbon tax and climate change.

Alan Jones speaks to Lord Christopher Monckton about carbon tax and climate change.

Some really good content here and well worth a listen, in stark contrast to the Adam Spencer where there was a clear bias to try and discredit any opponant to a carbon tax.

LISTEN HERE

.Controversial climate sceptic Lord Monckton Set to Speak at National Press Club

CLIMATE sceptic Christopher Monckton has been offered a prime speaking slot at the National Press Club in Canberra on July 19, despite a spate of cancelled public appearances.

Lord Monckton - who recently accused Julia Gillard's climate adviser Ross Garnaut of “fascist” views - is set to debate the Australia's Institute's executive director, economist Richard Denniss.

The Australian Online understands Lord Monckton was offered the spot in response to a request from his tour organisers.

The engagement is yet to be finalised as he has a speaking engagement in Melbourne which he is trying to shift.

It's understood the press club board approved the offer to Lord Monckton on Friday, while Dr Denniss has accepted the invitation.

National Press Club senior vice president Steve Lewis said the role of the club was to “provide a civilised forum for an important debate”.

“That's why we have extended the invitation to Lord Monckton and Dr Denniss to have this debate,” he said.

Dr Denniss has worked as a strategic adviser to Greens leader Bob Brown and worked as chief-of-staff to former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja.

Lord Monckton has had speaking appearances cancelled at clubs in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth since arriving in Australia, after his comments about Professor Garnaut were revealed. Lord Monckton later said he had apologised to Professor Garnaut.

Engagements at the Brisbane Broncos Leagues Club and Port Adelaide Football Club have also been cancelled.

Lord Monckton's tour organisers have subsequently arranged for him to speak at the Bardon Conference Venue in Queensland and the South Adelaide Football Club in South Australia.

Lord Monckton has also spoken at a mining conference in Perth, and at the city's Notre Dame University, during his current visit.

But he today hit out at those responsible for cancelling his appearances, saying it was evidence the climate change movement was faltering.

“I see this simply as a mark of naked fear on the part of people who had arrogantly decided to politicise science and have now discovered that the truth is the truth, whether they like it or not,” Lord Monckton said.

“What we're seeing here is the last gasp of quite an unpleasant international political movement which had decided to try to politicise science itself and which has now failed.”

“If they were confident of their own scientific and economic position, they would not be frightened to allow the other side of the case to be heard.”

Organisers of Lord Monckton's national tour were told his booking of a Port Adelaide Footbal Club function room was “unsuitable”.

Port Adelaide's media manager Andrew Rutter said the booking was made by a staff member but cancelled after management became aware of it.

“Port Adelaide is a sporting club and that is what we are about,” Mr Rutter said.

“The club respects everyone's right to an opinion, but does not see itself or its facilities as a platform for any political viewpoint.”http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Lord Monckton said the club did not understand what freedom of speech meant.

“In Australia it always used to be that you got a fair go and clearly that is no longer the case,” he said.

“Before I came here I had a look at the international reputation of Australia and a number of the websites that monitored human rights for instance are beginning to talk of Australia as no longer a free country because access to information is so controlled.”

TheAge.com.au