"The reason coal and gas prices are at record highs is because...

"The reason coal and gas prices are at record highs is because of the madness people like you are trying to perpetuate. Governments and Banks and other financiers have made it almost impossible to perform any investment in base load fuels like coal gas and oil."

I'm sorry, how exactly have 'people like me' caused this? Are coal and gas prices high because of a lack of coal and gas power plants???
My god, that is the funniest thing I've heard here for a while. Coal and gas prices are high because they are in demand by (guess what?), power stations!

The level of your delusion means that I only have one or two more replies left before I start looking like an idiot myself.
I'm an engineer who actively works in the gases and energy business, so please continue to call me an ideologue, it underlines your delusion.

"If you believe that some wind mills and solar panels are cheaper (and more reliable) than operating a coal and/or nuclear power plant, then you're more likely to be an ideologue trying to promote your new ESG religion, rather than someone trying to solve problems for humanity."

Though you are now trying to put words into my mouth, I'll bite this one time.. The cost of gas, oil and coal will only underline the benefits of renewable energy. BESS systems using REDOX/VFRB tech are starting to hit the market, which are cheaper, safer and last much longer than lithium. As these technologies hit commercial scale (we're pretty much here now) they become much cheaper than their fossil fuel equivalents.
Coal is not an option (and don't hit me with caveman reasons as to why it would be). Have you costed up nuclear? Have you sorted out where the spent fuel will go?
We need to transition to renewables with cheap, guaranteed gas fired backups (our governments need to prioritise locking in local reserves ASAP for this).


There is a gas shortage in VIC because there is no reserve strategy. Funnily enough, WA is not having a shortage.. can you guess why?
The wells aren't running out of gas, the companies are simply exporting most of it!

The fact that Solar, Wind, Pumped Hydro and BESS are the future does not change with any of the delusional remarks you have made. All of the shortages your links reference to are market driven, not lack of investment (tell me again about basic high school economics?).

As for the remarks about being dependent on China for manufacture, I'm sure a change in strategic government direction would empower local companies to manufacture here. Just remember, as dependent as we might be on China for certain goods, China is just as dependent on us for the raw materials to make those goods. So you see there, in the story of Russia v Europe... Australia maybe be more like Russia (the supplier) than China
If you look outside the scope of AGL, you will see a large national strategy kicked off by the Libs and looking to continue with Labor. Strategic mineral mining with LOCAL processing and value add to REDUCE our/the west's dependence on China.
You can either continue to hide in your cave, scared of when the commies might come, or step into the light and enjoy the next great Australian boom!