TheBaseloadPodcast

Why are politicians still pushing net zero, what happens when I post on social media, and Kerry Schott gets the goat.

Welcome back! The theme for 2024’s first episode is a reset – covering some old favourites and setting a new direction – well trying to anyway! We put the LNP’s nuclear plea in context, and pull apart AEMO’s integrated system plan with the assistance of Merryn York who was interviewed on the RenewEcomedy podcast in late 2023. No interview this episode. Feedback: thebaseloadpodcast@gmail.com

Chris Bowen’s capacity investment scheme, Oreos become a symbol of truth, the goat receives reinforcements, and I interview QLD Senator Matt Canavan.

This episode we look at propaganda spread by QLD Energy Minister Mick de Brenni, Jim Chalmers’ recent speech on how he’s going to further undermine Australia’s energy security, and we speak to Scott Hargreaves executive director of the Institute for Public Affairs about the IPA’s energy security initiative. https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/research-papers/energy-security-is-national-security-a-framework-for-better-energy-outcomes-in-australia

Truth matters and misinformation leads the energy debate, Australia’s energy security took another hit with the events in the Middle East, and I interview Campbell Newman.

What effect will Net Zero policies have on society, Chris Bowen gets the goat and I interview David Carland - a thorn in the side of CSIRO and AEMO and their flawed electricity system modelling.

Daniel Westerman on ABC radio vs the goat and the farmers, Ted O’Brien spars with Chris Bowen on social media with competing videos, and the GenCost saga so far.

Nuclear power is fast becoming a big talking point in Australia with Peter Dutton’s LNP finally succumbing to common sense and promising to repeal the legislation that has made nuclear power illegal. This episode contrasts Australia’s federal energy minister Chris Bowen with some people who actually make sense on nuclear. We’ll consider the next obvious step in Mr Bowen’s policy failure – extending the RET. Interview: Aidan Morrison on GenCost

Federal Nationals leader David Littleproud commits to Net Zero, while Nationals MP Anne Webster pushes back on regional transmission lines, Twiggy Forrest gets the goat. Interview: Dave Collins

Westerman vs the goat, demonisation of gas, and the dueling banjos of nuclear (soon to be) policy. Interview: Catriona Thoolen with her local perspective on renewables development in regional Victoria.

Clare Savage, chair of the Australian Energy Regulator, Daniel Andrews’ misinformation on gas development in Victoria, and the full audio from the nuclear power debate in the Australian Senate, 22 March 2023.

Eraring Power Station - to close or not to close is a question for the next premier of New South Wales, Dr Monique Ryan MP on methane emissions, interview with Maurice Newman.

The national electricity market, and Australian energy policies, look very different at the start of 2023 compared to the start of 2022. My thoughts on how gas, coal and electricity policy should be managed in Australia. How have local consumers navigated a year of very high gas prices? Liddell closure. Conservative politics and energy policy.

Price caps on coal and gas, renewables are cheaper but nobody can explain how this translates into lower bills for consumers, and the subsidy to end all subsidies – how the energy ministers plan to hide the costs of The Transition.

Interview with Tristan Prasser - nuclear energy, the rise of critical thinking about energy systems and who is contributing.

Interview: Adjunct Professor Stephen Wilson, University of Queensland https://energy.uq.edu.au/files/5963/WhatWouldBeRequired-FINAL.pdf

Industry Minister Ed Husic labels the gas industry all ‘glut and greed’, petroleum lobby CEO Samantha McCulloch's missed opportunities, renewables lobbyists Tim Buckley and Simon Holmes a Court, and will the climate alarmists be granted amnesty in the future?

Australia’s energy decline continues unabated. The energy bureaucrats are single-mindedly running the Australian electricity system into the ground with their increasingly desperate attempts to reach arbitrary renewable targets. Clips from AEMC CEO Ben Barr, Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen, Alex Epstein, Michael Shellenberger.

Interference, both from bureaucrats in markets, and from activist shareholders in the private sector. AGL is a good example of the latter, and we’ll look overseas for precursors to what’s happening in our local energy systems, particularly at Europe and the head of the UN calling for increasing taxes on fossil fuels. And we’ll consider the potential for the largest interference in our energy systems – nationalisation.

Broken electricity market – the National Electricity Market is destined for even more government intervention; Central planning on steroids – bureaucrats out of control; and a new report by the US DoE – repurposing coal power station sites into nuclear.

Queensland's 'supergrid' aka how much does it cost to shut down half-a-dozen coal-fired power stations, outright climate alarmism from elites in the US plus a rebuttal from Bjorn Lomborg. Interview: Alan Moran

Market suspension, massive government spending, Europe rations electricity. Interview: Rafe Champion