Here is what I received in my inbox from GetUp!

“Yesterday, Energy Minister Martin Ferguson announced that the Government has abandoned its commitment to shut down some of Australia’s dirtiest power plants.
The scheme, called Contract for Closure (CFC), was designed to close stations like the infamous Hazelwood brown coal plant, by paying out the commercial operators. Instead, the program’s been scrapped because coal-fired generators remain so profitable that they think their assets are worth more than what the government was willing to pay.

What’s particularly hard to swallow about the breakdown in negotiations is now the most emissions-intensive generators are free to continue polluting – and be paid for it, to the tune of $5.5 billion in taxpayer compensation. Hazelwood alone has already received $266 million to continue polluting.
Now, it’s being estimated that due to that compensation some of Australia’s biggest polluters are actually expected to profit from the carbon price; the exact opposite of what should have been an incentive to either transition to cleaner technologies, or close down. ^[1]
It means that owners of Australia’s most polluting generators are being propped up, at our expense, while they continue business as usual.”

Not being one to stand back and whinge about this turn of events without doing something about it, I sent some of our MPs a personal email.  I sent it to our Federal MPs Combet, Ferguson, and Swann being Ministers for Climate Change, Energy, and the Treasurer.

Dear Ministers, 

Please reconsider your decision to back away from the negotiations with some of Australia’s biggest polluting energy companies.

Failing to close these coal fired power stations will send a message to the world that Australians are not serious about mitigating climate change, and that we are not willing to replace dirty coal with clean, green renewable energy. 

Instead of propping up a 19th century electricity generation technology, lets embrace the 21st century and make our energy from the sun and wind. We have the means, and the know how, we just need the political will, because Australians all over the country are asking for these solutions. 

Please do the right thing and re-enter negotiations to close the deal and some of the dirtiest power plants in our great country.  Lets think of the legacy that we are leaving behind for our children and grandchildren.

Yours Sincerely, 

Gavin Webber

I know I am only but one voice, but I believe that if we do not each take an active part in voicing our dissatisfaction then nothing will change.

You can find the tool to send these three MPs your email at the GetUp! campaign site.  Please take the time to let them know your views on the matter.