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If BDLG truly wanted to preserve the environment of the area they would be supporting renewable energy rather than opposing it. Carbon emissions from fossil fuel fired power stations are one of the main causes of climate change and ocean acidification and these are far greater threats to the Australian environment than are wind farms. On the Home PageThe SA Liberal's brochure on wind farmsThe BDLG have a copy of a brochure released by the SA Liberal Party in January 2012. It is interesting that BDLG have the first draft of the brochure that stated the Liberals would not allow wind turbines within five kilometres of a home; this was apparently an error and a later draft changed the figure to two kilometres.The Liberals brochure is full of lies and half-truths and is worth a study on its own; I have critiqued it elsewhere on these pages. The BDLG brochure about wind turbine efficiencyThis brochure is stuffed full of lies.
Fact: Wind power reduces greenhouse emissionsStarting with the BDLG claim:"Does wind power measurably reduce greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions from power generation – NO, detailed anaysis shows net savings are miniscule, no more than about 5% of that claimed by promoters (and supported by government)."False; BDLG do not give the source of this remarkable and unbelievable analysis, but it is probably from wind power opponent Hamish Cumming, whose 'analysis' was written up by anti-wind power 'Environmental Editor' of The Australian, Graham Lloyd. An extensive report by the US Department of Energy came to a very different conclusion. There have been several studies on how much greenhouse gasses are abated by wind farms; see here and here, but obviously BDLG choose to ignore the studies by experts and selected an analysis by a lone amateur because it suited their preconceptions. The graph on the right shows emissions intensity (EI) from the four large states in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM) and the average for the whole of the NEM, including Tasmania. (Tasmania's EI is off-scale at the bottom of this graph.) There has been a slight decline in electricity consumption in Australia in the past very few years. It is important to understand that while this may result in a corresponding decrease in total emissions it would not reduce emissions intensity. The only thing that would reduce EI is cleaner generations methods, eg. wind power and solar power. Note the very large decline in South Australia's EI; due almost entirely to the introduction of wind power. SA has far more wind power per capita than any other state.
Fact: Fossil fuelled power stations have been shut down because of wind powerAnd then there is the BDLG claim:"Does wind power allow the decommissioning of a single fossil fuelled power generator? – NO, not at anytime anywhere in the world!"Quite false, for example:
Another claim by BDLG: "Does wind power increase energy costs – YES, very significantly."Again, quite false; a number of breakdowns of the costs of electricity have been done and all show that wind power has played a very small part in the increased price of electricity.
If the BDLG have truth and justice on their side, why do they resort to
lies?
Climate change damage
Western AustraliaThe South West of Western Australia is being impacted particularly hard. An article written by Ben Deacon and Daniel Mercer for ABC Weather noted that:
South AustraliaThe defoliation damage in the Spring Gully Conservation Park shown above happened following an exceptionally hot and dry summer and autumn of 2007/08. There was another defoliation event in the conservation park in 2018, and again in 2019.The conservation park is near my home. Also near my home is the Crystal Brook where I have recorded a very significant decrease in stream flow. It is arguable that one or the other of the exceptionally hot and dry summers that were responsible for the damage in the Spring Gully Conservation Park may not have had anything to do with climate change. What is undeniable by any well informed and honest person is that exceptional weather events such as these will become more common as climate change progresses unless we get serious about taking action such as replacing fossil fuel fired power stations with wind farms and other forms of benign renewable energy. We all have to play our part in cooperating in the fight to reduce climate changeSaying "climate change action is well and good, but not if it is near me" should not be accepted by right-minded people. How much environmental damage do we have to see before people like the BDLG say, "yes, we want to do our bit to slow down climate change"? |