The Final Countdown (For Real This Time), page-1329

Here is some new info over the weekend. I don't think it explains todays action fully, but does help shore up probability of NOPTA approval / assistance with CCS.

Background
As we all know, Prof Peter Cook has been appointed by BPH as its head scientist looking at Carbon Storage.
Prof Cook has quite high level involvement with regards to carbon storage. Noteably has authored documents for the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) which is a well respected UN body. He has previously been the cheif executive of an organistation called CO2CRC, which is a research body testing Carbon Storage techniques. He remains with this organisation, served as CE it from its inception till 2011.
https://co2crc.com.au/who-we-are/about-us/
https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/6467/

Development
Controversially, over the weekend the Goverment has appointed several new members to the ERAC (Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee.) This is a committee which assesses whether methods meet the requirements of the Emissions Reduction Fund and provides advice to the Minister for the Environment and Energy. They usually approve things like reducing emissions by improvement to farming techniques. Essentially the goverment has pulled a fast one and has approved people to the board who are likely to be sympathetic to carbon storage. Highly recommend reading this article.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/23/coalition-quietly-adds-fossil-fuel-industry-leaders-to-emissions-reduction-panel?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

The minister for the environment and energy is Susan Ley. As some background, she believes in Numerology - so ... not the brightest cookie, and is in an extremly safe seat in south west NSW --> Also is a big backer of Scott Morrison in regards to Liberal factions. In my opinion, would rubber stamp anything.

I've listed the members of ERAC below, if you are super interested. But the main noteworthy appointment is David Byers as the chair of the committee, who is the current head of C02CRC. Which is the aforementioned organistation that Peter Cook is involved with, and was the foundation chief exec for

What does this mean
Who knows. But this does give further evidence that there is some personal connectivity between goverment bodies that might start funding CCS, and Prof Cook (and therefore BPH)

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Personally. I suspected that it would get approved after hours today, that Australia Day and the usual media circus about it would be a useful cover. If not today, then we all know the timeline as sketched out by others.
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ERAC

Chair Mr. David Byers 15 December 2020
- Head of C02CRCMember
Ms. Allison Hortle 1 January 2021 31 December 2023
- CSIRO / Hydrodynamic analysis of petroleum reservoirs
Dr. Beverley Henry 15 June 2020 14 June 2023
- QUT academic --> stuff about agriculture research
Ms. Margaret Thomson 15 June 2020 14 June 2023
- Could not find anything abtout her
Member Dr. Brian Fisher 1 January 2021 31 December 2023
- Economist Used to also go to IPCC (early 2000s)
- used to work for minerals council
- Media Watch / Sky news (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEQlz9vgFDU&ab_channel=TheAusInstitute)
- Outlier with regardsing to climate research --> over predicts impact to GDP (https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/new-analysis-brian-fisher-modelling-climate-outlier/)
Mr Helen Bennett 1 January 2021 31 December 2023
- Nothing found
Mr Mick Keogh 1 January 2021 31 December 2023
- Ag commisioner