source : the age
Credit: Matt Golding
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EV possibility
Since Victorians have embraced rooftop solar in a bid to cut their energy usage, it makes sense for people to now be encouraged to use the excess solar which is being fed back into the grid.
One way would be to encourage as many electric vehicles as possible be charged during the day. Most places with solar panels now have time-of-use meters. Instead of charging high fees for electricity use during the day, encourage people to use far more electricity during the day by reducing the cost to consumers.
I’d happily plug in my EV then if it was cheaper than using off-peak overnight rates. It would be a win-win situation for both the climate and consumers.
Eileen Ray, Ascot Vale
Disappearing power
During summer, I export far more energy to the grid than I use, yet I still get a bill (“Victorians with rooftop solar will get virtually nothing for feeding power to the grid”, 10/1). I know how to maximise my use of the power I am generating. I have a heat pump hot water system on a timer for hours of maximum efficiency. I run my dishwasher during the day and the washing machine is out of bounds after dark.
I’m curious to what happens to the power that isn’t bought. Does it disappear? Why can’t the Victorian government invest in a battery bank (like South Australia) so the excess power can be saved for use after sunset? Then, perhaps, you can start paying us a reasonable rate.
Kim Smith, Hughesdale
Reward the households
Every household that has responded to the call over years to install solar power to assist with the provision of electricity and to assist with addressing climate change and the need to close down coal-powered stations should be outraged that our response will see the amount paid to us by the corporations will become virtually nothing while they continue to make big profits.
Why not ask the corporations to take less profit, reduce executive high salaries and reward households for acting responsibility.
Is that not the job of the regulator or are they there simply to protect profits? Should not household investment also be valued?
Ray Cleary, Camberwell
No-brainer solution
Rather than reducing the feed-in tariff for electricity generated by rooftop solar it is a no-brainer that the state government should be subsidising the purchase of batteries to be added to privately owned power systems to store excess power for use overnight.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Warning: storms ahead
Firestorms and blizzards in the US seem like an appropriate foretaste of the predictable apocalypse of Donald Trump’s second coming. Our planet is simply issuing its own warnings.
Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor
Drill, burn, pray
After looking at the dystopian images of the wildfires in Los Angeles, Donald Trump’s energy policy slogan of ″Drill, baby drill″, took on a whole new meaning. Perhaps ″Burn, baby burn″ would sadly be more to the point, followed shortly after by ″Thoughts and prayers″.
Craig Jory, Albury, NSW
Deign to tell Trump?
Has anyone reminded Donald Trump that Denmark is a member of NATO, and therefore an ally of the United States?
Rod Allan, West Melbourne
The science is clear
The year 2024 has been reported as the hottest year since record keeping began, and that large parts of Los Angeles have been destroyed by wildfires – in winter.
We’ve seen huge bushfires in Victoria and Western Australia, while other parts of the world are still recovering from massive storms and flooding.
We have all known for years that the burning of fossil fuels is changing the climate, with extreme weather events becoming more common. The science is all too clear. We are heading over a cliff while our politicians are too scared to take the steps needed to drastically reduce digging the stuff out of the ground, and our big mining companies are prepared to sacrifice their grandchildren’s futures for big profits now.
Will it be us, the citizens, who will have to pick up the tab for emergency responses, community recovery, out-of-reach insurance, damaged infrastructure and overwhelmed health systems?
Hands up all the candidates for the coming federal election who are prepared to stand up for stronger action on climate change? We need a few more independents to help fight this battle.
Catherine Rossiter, Fadden, NSW
Carter’s legacy
The bizarre interplay between ex-presidents at Jimmy Carter’s funeral should not detract from how substantial a human he was. It was heartening that the epic international achievements in the post-presidential phase of his life were acknowledged; but, in death as in life, the man’s complexity was not given due recognition.
It should not be overlooked that the early 20th century in his home state of Georgia was characterised by a template of cruel “Jim Crow” laws; and a virulent Klu Klux Klan and “lynch mob” form of justice.
Remarkably, Carter’s segregationist father allowed him to play with the children of black workers in his home town of Plains. Such experiences undoubtedly contributed to his political ascent in astutely navigating a milieu of racists from his Democrat Party.
His strong moral compass and Southern Baptist aversion to what was perceived as the sin of pride made him the epitome of that decency alluded to by Joe Biden at his funeral.
Historians need to accord him more recognition.
Jon McMillan, Mount Eliza
Adopt the anagram
Remember the anti-Voice to parliament slogan “if you don’t know vote No” , how about for the coming federal election, if you are ″unclear don’t vote nuclear?″
David Willmer Wright, Flinders
Danger of chatbots
I wonder how many other adolescent psychologists worry about the use of AI chatbots like Claude (“His name is Claude, and he might be Silicon Valley’s most beloved confidant”, 11/1) among young people?
These technologies can easily spread misinformation, as young users may lack the critical skills to discern fact from AI-generated fiction.
Is there a guarantee that personal data shared with chatbots won’t be exploited? Might reliance on AI for social interaction hinder the development of vital interpersonal skills?
It is crucial for parents and educators to educate young people about the potential dangers of these tools to ensure a safer online experience.
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg,
adolescent psychologist,
Melbourne
Magical works
I am so pleased that director Bob Connolly will bring Alison Lester’s wonderful Magic Beach to the screen (″Capturing spirit of a children’s classic″, 11/1). What a collaboration of creative minds.
Lester’s books bring imagination, fantasy and magic to children and adults alike. I used to read them to my grandchildren and still occasionally read them to myself.
Anne Sgro, Coburg North
Peace in reflection
Warwick McFadyen (Faith, 5/1) yet again writes with great poignancy and offers reflection, something greatly needed in today’s world with so much turmoil. As our humanity is being debased in many parts of the world, his call to us to find the ″garden in our souls″ is a beautiful metaphor. We live in a connected world, but so often are blind to it.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
