Failure to heed lesson of disastrous green experiment

Chris Uhlmann gives an excellent expose of the widespread failure of the take-up of renewable energy throughout the Western world (“Once upon a time in energy transition”, 19-20/7). Not only are unaffordable energy and deindustrialisation the norm but the main aim of reducing global emissions has been an abject failure as global emissions continue to reach new highs. There is a glimmer of hope to arrest this madness as countries increasingly are turning towards emission-free nuclear power along with gas to stabilise and securitise national energy supplies and reboot industrial growth. Unfortunately for Australia, the Albanese government is totally opposed to energy pragmatism, which will render the coming talkfest on reform as more or less meaningless.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

If he were doing his job, Energy Minister Chris Bowen would be learning from Germany’s failed green energy experiment, not emulating it. Germany was once an industrial powerhouse. Not any more. After 35 years of subsidising wind and solar that to this day have contributed nothing to supply security, Germany has the highest electricity prices in Europe and its industrial base is on its knees. Bowen has two choices: he can continue leading us down the same industry and jobs-killing path that Germany embarked on, or he can do the honourable thing, the moral thing, and stop squandering billions of dollars in taxpayer funds to feed his green energy delusion.

Dale Ellis, Innisfail, Qld

Chris Uhlmann’s piece on the German experience and the adverse impacts of the green dream on power prices, job security, threats to social cohesion, along with the government’s proposal of multibillion-dollar subsidies as the solution makes sobering reading. But even more disturbing is our federal and state energy ministers ignoring Germany’s experience and continuing with their green dreams, even touting green hydrogen as a panacea.

Martin Newington, Aspendale, Vic

Not for the first time Chris Uhlmann has told us the gloomy truth about the delusion our government has adopted in the pursuit of net zero. Uhlmann is not alone. We know for as long as Chris Bowen is Climate Change and Energy Minister and for as long as Anthony Albanese enjoys the majority Australians delivered for his party mere months ago, the government will maintain it has a mandate to continue this madcap obsession.

The Coalition under new leader Sussan Ley equivocates on climate and energy policy, neither knowing what to do nor understanding or being aware of the facts Uhlmann has set out so clearly.

Geoff Ellis, Smithfield, Qld

Thank you, Chris Uhlmann, for debunking the claims made by our government about the benefits of renewable energy. The worldwide demand for fossil fuels is greater now than it has ever been and, as Germany and many other countries are finding out, blindly switching from nuclear and fossil fuels to renewable energy to supposedly save the planet is an absolute disaster for German businesses and the German people as they see their energy bills rise, businesses close and thousands of jobs lost. Where are the 604,000 “green” jobs promised to us by Energy Minister Chris Bowen back in 2022? Where is the reduction in our power bills also promised back in 2022? Where is the benefit to the world’s environment from our renewable energy initiatives?

Brian Barker, Bulimba, Qld

Chris Uhlmann deserves credit for saying what too many won’t: Australia is walking blindfolded into an energy crisis and no amount of political spin will disguise it. While global demand for energy surges, driven by artificial intelligence, data centres, electrification and digitally networked economies, Australia is deliberately dismantling the systems that keep the lights on.

Our politicians have traded engineering for ideology, pretending that intermittent renewables can shoulder the load of a modern industrial nation. It’s time for a reality-based energy policy, and a skills-first education agenda that recognises where real national strength lies.

Australia must stop apologising for its resources and start using them with pride, with ambition and with strategic purpose.

Richard Evans, Airlie Beach, Qld