LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
WHAT an opportunity!
In the midst of community dismay (at the imminent closure of Hazelwood), it is easy to miss the exciting possibilities open to us.
What is being claimed as ‘green madness’ by some political opportunists could, in fact, provide our salvation.
If we were to ignore the Luddites and denialists who still insist that mankind is not choking the planet, then we could see conversion to clean, green energy options as the obvious alternative to dirty coal.
We could then see the Latrobe Valley retaining its role as Victoria’s energy hub, but now in a much enhanced light.
This opportunity could arise if we were to invite a business entity, such as Tesla, to invest its vision for the future here in Gippsland.
Right now, in Nevada, Tesla is on the verge of completing the world’s first Gigafactory.
This is a gigantic production unit (2.5 kilometres by 0.5 kilometres in size) powered solely by wind and solar electricity.
When completed, this factory has budgeted to produce half a million lithium batteries per year.
For those not up with all things solar, lithium batteries can power electric cars, or store solar energy produced domestically.
Such a capability is able to take a significant load off the requirements of the national grid.
What an employment bonanza.
Not only that, it is estimated that 100 such gigafactories could totally halt mankind’s climate-changing global destruction.
It will require a determined effort for us to attract such investment, but, if we are not prepared to aim for the highest peak, then we do not deserve to even scale the foothills.
Let’s do it.
Let us turn this temporary ‘disaster’ into a positive vision for the future.
Are you listening Dan?
