Renfrey Clarke writes that some of Peter Dutton鈥檚 nuclear power plan 鈥渇acts鈥 are comedic 鈥 in a very dark kind of way. But the Coalition鈥檚 endorsement of nuclear will have a deadening effect on investment in renewables.
Voices of the Valley
Hazelwood Power Station, Australia鈥檚 dirtiest power generator and many decades past its 鈥渦se by鈥 date, will finally close on March 31.
Hazelwood鈥檚 closure is symbolic because of its size, its history and because it provides 20% of Victoria鈥檚 power. But technological advances and environmental concerns have finally caught up with it.
In May, majority owner ENGIE鈥檚 CEO Isabelle Kocher said the company was reviewing its remaining coal plants one by one and would close those with the most outdated technology.
Scandal has erupted in Victoria as GDF Suez, the majority owner of the Hazelwood coal-fired power station, refuses to pay an $18 million bill to the Country Fire Authority. The bill is for the firefighting effort at last year's coalmine fire that blanketed local towns with soot and smoke for 45 days.