Energy policy progress or political spin???
As reported in The Australian, the Daily Telegraph and in The West; John Howard is promoting an energy strategy that involves support for nuclear power deployment as well as enrichment technologies in Australia.
But is this real intent, genuine political will - or just another crack of the hammer down on the wedge? Obviously, the timing has been 'optimised'.
The plans are reported to also include regulatory streamlining as well as participation in Generation IV R&D.
At the same time, this report from the Sydney Morning Herald claims that Australia will exceed our Kyoto limits. Yes, the Howard led government has not signed up to Kyoto - but as reported in the article, Prime Minister Howard has claimed that Australia meets the targets in any case. This new data - combined with the next IPCC report to come out next week will apply further pressure on Australia to act.
As reported in The Australian, the Daily Telegraph and in The West; John Howard is promoting an energy strategy that involves support for nuclear power deployment as well as enrichment technologies in Australia.
But is this real intent, genuine political will - or just another crack of the hammer down on the wedge? Obviously, the timing has been 'optimised'.
The plans are reported to also include regulatory streamlining as well as participation in Generation IV R&D.
At the same time, this report from the Sydney Morning Herald claims that Australia will exceed our Kyoto limits. Yes, the Howard led government has not signed up to Kyoto - but as reported in the article, Prime Minister Howard has claimed that Australia meets the targets in any case. This new data - combined with the next IPCC report to come out next week will apply further pressure on Australia to act.
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"And if you think of the nuclear safety record out there at Smithfield (sic) with Homer Simpson in charge, be afraid, be very afraid."
ReplyDelete-- Kevin Rudd
:(
I really thought he was smarter than that.
This quote would make a nice addition to NIOF's famous collection of anti-nuclear kook quotes.
Of course, to find a poorly run nuclear power plant with allegedly incompetent employees, Mr. Rudd had to turn to the world of fiction. In reality, nuclear workers are highly skilled, highly paid, conscientious workers. (Hmm, is that why Marge Simpson doesn't have to work outside the home, the Simpsons own a smart looking three bedroom home in a nice neighborhood and run two cars?)
ReplyDeleteIn the USA, the nuclear power industry is one of the safest workplaces in the union. Non-military nuclear installations are tightly regulated to ensure that they remain safe for those that work there, and the rest of society. Here in the US, nuclear power plants also pay the lion's share of local government taxes, which means that having a nuclear power plant in your local government tax zone means lower taxes and higher real estate values. You'd think that the workers' party would welcome such good corporate citizens.