And we’re back! 
Yes, we fell of our perch for a while, but reports of our death were premature. We’re returning in 2012 with a new debate series and at a new location: Melbourne University Graduate House, 220 Leicester Street, Carlton 3053. (Google map)
Debates will be held on the second Thursday of each month beginning on March 8.
More details very soon.
You can find out about our past debates and watch them on video here
Click to see more debate photographs
Here’s my summary of the Zero Carbon Plan Australia, Plan or Pipe Dream debate between Matthew Wright and Arthur Dent. There was broad agreement by Arthur Dent that the Zero Carbon Energy Plan was technologically feasible. Arthur liked the breadth and large scale of the proposal. Both were against a carbon energy scheme.
Arthur argued that the ZCA underestimated peak load demands, Matthew countered that the figures Arthur was quoting were from a biased power industry energy lobby. Arthur suggested some of the costings were an underestimation and would like to see more economic research.
Arthur’s preferred path was to take no action on the plan, suggesting instead that there should be funding for continued research on power generation instead. He argued the current time frame about a climate change crisis was an exaggeration.
The major technologies proposed were wind turbines for 40% of Australia’s power generation, 60% of the power generation would be from CST (concentrating solar thermal) using molten salt for power storage and heilostat (mirrors) for collection, both proven technologies. The proposal suggests hydroelectricity for peak loads and photo voltaic power to supplement daylight demand. The proposed power grid would use High Voltage Transmission which has a low power loss compared to the current aging AC power grid.
Comments from the floor:
There was a claim that the coal industry has a $13 billion government subsidy to export coal via ports.
Another said China was committed to a greater renewable energy commitment than Australia, this was disputed as talk rather than truth by Arthur.
Is the Monthly Argument dead now, or will there be another? I went to the first but then I was out of the country for a year.