The Land Down Under

Dear Editor,

Need another reminder of the US' backward approach to energy policy? Look abroad to the land downunder, Australia. While citizens of the USA are scrapping to feed themselves and their families, while the federal government reopens vast swaths of wilderness to gas and oil interest, while energy bills rise thanks to data centers and increasing demand - Australia is giving away energy for free.

Specifically, Australia - a country blessed with abundant solar energy thanks to geographic features and a high uptake of home solar panels, estimated at about 4.2 million households - will be offering three free hours of electricity per day to all citizens. The goal is to encourage shifting power-heavy tasks (think dishwasher or clothes dryer) to the middle of the day when solar generation is abundant, downshifting the need as the sun sets, and will be accomplished via a smart meter.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration cancels wind power projects, dashes subsidies for solar panels, and dumps on renewable energy at every turn; all the while openly embracing increasingly outdated and expensive forms of electricity generation like coal and natural gas. We'll all feel the financial and climatic stress of this approach before too long.

Sincerely,

Nathan Dombeck

Janesville, WI