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OT - new carbon tax 3-Mar-2011 At 9:08:34 AM lacto

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Wind power is relatively cheap to install and can be built in increments of 1 to 5 Mw units and while they certainly can replace carbon unfortune=ately the range from 30 to 40 % average production of their rated capacity and on those really hot days seem only to get up to 5%. A large solar 2000Mw would produce power during the day when needed and salt storage would allow longer operation . This would knock off all the peak pricing available to to generators and the market of hedging offer by say the hydro operators who actually sell the right to generation at a price which they recieve even if they dont actually have to supply . To me the funny thing is the current talk of having to compensate the coal generators if they were to close eg Hazelwood was to be shut down and that was known when sold by Kennett government but Bracks extended their life as victorian continuity of supply couldnt have coped without Hazelwood and nobody would commit to new brown coal generation without huge guareentees about future carbon costs and operating lives .