Greenpeace is calling on the Turnbull government to give up its addiction to coal, which it says is making heatwaves more extreme and leaving many Australians without electricity.
Climate and clean energy campaigner Nikola Casule said: “The best way to guard against blackouts is to invest across the grid in renewable energy and storage, which provides affordable, reliable power without adding more fuel to the fire of global warming.
“The treasurer’s antics waving around coal in the parliament yesterday won’t do anything to help Australians suffering through unbearable heat and worrying about blackouts today.”
Casule is referring there to Scott Morrison bringing a sizeable chunk of coal into question time on Thursday for show and tell with Labor: “This is coal, don’t be afraid.”
What a bunch of clowns, hamming it up when real people are suffering blackouts in South Australia, when the country is sweltering through a summer that feels ominous and oppressive – that heat that just won’t let up, almost as if those pesky climate scientists might be on to something.
Trunkey Rd in Georges Plains, Bathurst, is closed in both directions between Wimbledon Rd and Rockley Rd due to that grass fire. The advice from NSW RFS is to avoid the area.
WATCH & ACT: Wimbledon Rd, Georges Plains. Fire moving in a SE direction towards Trunkey Rd. Firefighters assisted by aircraft. #NSWRFSpic.twitter.com/Sf1cWIKXPk
The body that runs the national electricity market is still warning of possible blackouts in NSW this afternoon.
The highest risk is now between 3.30pm and 5.30pm.
The Australian Energy Market Operator calls this “load shedding”. In order to protect the infrastructure, the load on the system is reduced by ordering blackouts.
The aim of load shedding is to minimise impact on any one group of energy users, by rolling the blackouts around different areas.
But if the demand and supply changes rapidly, that is not always possible.
The market operator – Aemo – has been begging energy generators to bid into the electricity market, but they appear to not have had enough of a response.
They have now turned to asking consumers – you – to use less electricity. In a media release today, they said: “If consumers can safely reduce their electricity consumption during periods of high demand, this can ease the supply/demand balance and can mitigate the need for load shedding.”
The fire in Georges Plains is an out of control glass fire on Wimbledon Road. NSW RFS has put its status at “watch and act”, reflecting a “heightened level of threat” – one step above “advice”, indicating that a fire has started but there is no immediate danger, and below an “emergency warning”, the highest level of alert possible.
Here’s chopper footage of that fire on Wimbledon Rd, Georges Plains.
“Isolated properties are in the area.”
WATCH AND ACT: Wimbledon Rd, Georges Plains. #NSWRFS crews on scene fighting a fast moving grass fire. Isolated properties are in the area. pic.twitter.com/pQ6CQTMUie
A few minutes ago the Rural Fire Service reported a “fast-moving grass fire” in the Georges Plains region of Bathurst. I’ll see what more I can find about this.
#NSWRFS crews on scene at a fast moving grass fire at Wimbledon Rd, Georges Plains (Bathurst LGA).
The NSW RFS warned of dangerous fire conditions across much of NSW yesterday, with commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons pointing to the potentially deadly combination of extremely high temperatures and wind.
Severe and extreme fire dangers were expected in widespread areas, and there was the potential for catastrophic fire danger in the Hunter region on Sunday.
If you see an unattended fire, you’re reminded to call 000.
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