Renewable energy

THE election of a Labor Government, with a green fringe on the left and chic teal accent on the right, will ramp up the push for renewable energy.

As outlined in The Chronicle on June 4, our region is in the forefront of this revolution, which, like any such development, has pluses and minuses.

One major negative that was not mentioned is the visual impact. It feels like we are industrialising our rural landscapes to offset urban guilt about their carbon footprint.

You can’t say the sea of solar panels visible on arrival in Warwick, or on the Warrego Highway west of Oakey, add to the pleasure of a drive in the country. Or that the forest of wind turbines that has shot up adjacent to the iconic Bunya Mountains, starkly visible when driving north from Dalby through Jandowae, adds to the appreciation of our mountain vistas.

At least what is left after coal is extracted, if legislated for and managed well, can be rehabilitated to some degree, as demonstrated at Acland.

But have we legislated and planned for what happens to the massive infrastructure installed for renewable energy when its useful life ends?

From this, and other, reports these optic delights are set to blossom and grow exponentially, along with the pretty power lines needed to get the energy to the electric vehicle charging stations that are popping up like weeds after rain.

Oh, and don’t forget the beauty of the batteries required to smooth out the lumpiness of the supply, or the turbulence caused by pumping water in and out of our iconic dams every day. Do these count as environmental impacts?

Don’t get me wrong, I am a supporter of renewable energy – I have solar panels and solar hot water installed in my home, designed in a solar passive way, with low energy lights and appliances. I’m even thinking about an electric, or at least hybrid, car.

My question to the green and red and teal voters, not to exclude the blues and the “other” greens, is what are you doing to reduce your carbon footprint, your energy demand, your impact on the climate?

Is it up to the government to fix this, for us to be told what to do, to be subsidised to buy our electric car (for the short trips to Aldi or Ikea or Harvey Norman to buy imports with huge energy miles) parked next to the gas guzzling weekend vehicle?

Would the green and teal climate warriors be content with wind turbines dotting Mt Cootha, or the Blue Mountains escarpment?

Before we destroy the visual environment of our region we should exhaust every other renewable energy opportunity – put solar panels on very north facing roof, particularly large government and industrial buildings, upgrade urban power lines to cope with this input, encourage solar hot water wherever hot water is required, and educate people on reducing their individual power demand – do you really need that clothes drier, when the Hills hoist will do the same job with solar, no power point required?

Much more could, and should, be said on this topic. DAVID TOTENHOFER, Oakey