WORLD OF UNKNOWNS

I read with interest the Editor’s view that ‘Feds need to stump up on Marinus’ (Mercury, July 1).

The Editorial could have gone further to explain the full picture rather than echo Minister Barnett, so rejection of the Marinus by Tasmanians is better understood.

Right-to-Information shows Tasmania share is 6 per cent. Mainland and foreign companies need to stump up the rest – not the Feds and Tasmanians (more correctly called the taxpayer).

AEMO promotes Marinus and its $4 billion price tag but it is only a shortterm fix to help fill a hole while the Mainland tidal wave of batteries, new wind farms and other renewables such as the booming rooftop solar supply comes on stream.

Tasmania will never be the battery of the nation. It is only a AAA battery in the national scene.

South Australia’s 500 per cent renewable energy strategy will see their supply going to NSW and Victoria.

Victoria is not interested in paying for Marinus because it is cheaper to store energy in batteries closer to the user and link into NSW and South Australian supplies. It is taking great strides to look after itself.

Victoria’s offshore wind farm (Star of the South) will be 2000MW and will supply 20 per cent of Victoria’s needs and has almost the same capacity as HydroTas.

Marinus is said to be 1500MW but more likely lower if Basslink’s performance is the example.

And what does Tasmania get out of it? Subsiding multinationals, increased power costs, most jobs going to the and overseas, and ninety (90) windfarms and 3000 turbines scarring the Tasmanian landscape and brand because the Government won’t identify ‘No Turbine Zones” so wind farms go in the right place.

Tasmanians want a lot of questions answered before they become believers – do we need Marinus if there is a local hydrogen industry?

Is a modest local hydrogen industry a better fit for Tasmania than Marinus?

Will hydrogen power be subsidised by Tasmanian taxpayers in Minister Barnett’s pricing model? Will foreign wind farm developers and hydrogen developers be paying their fair share of Marinus? When the mainland tidal wave of batteries, wind, and rooftop solar come on stream, will Marinus be financial or go broke like Basslink?

Yes Minister, please stump up with the full picture and plan with details and options rather than taking Tasmania into a Marinus world of unknowns, landscape harm, and taxpayer debt.

David Ridley

Austins Ferry