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Solar Power; The Obvious Choice (Howard Emanuel)If one was to take a purely pragmatic view then you would say given the vast resources Australia has in solar capacity at its disposal our research and development efforts should be directed at this particular form of alternative energy. Read more... By Howard Emanuel - 4th October 2004 - Back to News 
If one was to take a purely pragmatic view then you would say given the vast resources Australia has in solar capacity at its disposal our research and development efforts should be directed at this particular form of alternative energy. In a world where we constantly talk of efficiencies and the need to adopt best practice, surely we should underpin our future energy needs on the exploration of our most prolific resource; solar energy.
Wind power by its nature requires that the necessary infrastructure generally be placed somewhere close to the coast where wind resources are often at their optimum potential, but so are Australia’s population centres and all indications are that future trends will increase this consolidation. A progressive view of social development would suggest that domestic living and industrial infrastructure should not co-exist in near proximity and nor does this have to be the case if forward looking processes are embraced.
Solar also has the benefits of being applicable at the micro level, that is small unobtrusive units can be fixed to the everyday house and supply a significant proportion of the energy needs of that household, without impinging on the surrounding amenity in any measurable way.
As Australia’s population increases and our coastal fringes accommodate a growing number of people, solar energy can be harnessed at a micro level on our homes and at a macro level in broad scale developments if required away from major population centres, in the more open regions of the country. Where it just so happens few people live, few communities thrive and given the historic lack of water in these regions it is difficult to envisage these regions struggling to cope with population influxes similar to those currently assaulting Australia’s coastal regions.
When you weigh it all up, accepting the fact that however we provide for our energy needs the accompanying infrastructure will have some impact, solar seems to be the most benign and also it seems the most efficient.
Thank you.
Howard Emanuel.
Independent Candidate for the Federal Seat of McMillan.
Convener: Rural Social Justice Movement
Tele/Fax: (03)5684 1561
Mobile: 0400 158 896
E-mail: howard@howardemanuel.com
Website: www.HowardEmanuel.com
"Bringing the People back into Policy!"
www.HowardEmanuel.com
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: kris@howardemanuel.com
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