Australia recently made waves by repealing its carbon tax laws, leading the Wall Street Journal and others to note that it was “the first time a developed nation had made such a U-turn”5 on climate change policy. Tasmania, however, has since reiterated its goal of running the country on 100% renewable energy sources by 2020.6 Currently Tasmania runs on about 64% hydroelectricity, 11% natural gas, 4% wind, <1% landfill burning, and about 20% electricity supplied by the Basslink connection to Australia.
Tasmania can produce so much hydroelectricity because of it’s steep terrain and high rainfall. Tasmania’s hydroelectricity system is run by Hydro Tasmania, a government-owned corporation.2 Hydro Tasmania operates 30 hydro-electric power generation sites, and the all operate on the same basic principal. Water flowing downhill with gravity turns a turbine attached to a large electromagnet, which spins inside conductive coil, creating electric current.
Anthony Dam and Lake Plimsoli, part of the Tribute station on the Pieman River8
While water is a renewable resource, flowing downhill, reaching the ocean, evaporating, and returning as rainfall, hydro-electric dams often cause significant environmental changes and ecosystem damage. While the Tasmanian government and private industry were initially very gung-ho about harnessing this resource, environmental protests caught the attention of many Tasmanians. This culminated in the controversy, protests, and public referendum surrounding the proposed Franklin dam on the Gordon River. The dam would have significantly impacted areas listed as World Heritage sites, but also reduced Tasmania’s reliance on fossil fuels. In the end the referendum was split and the dam was not constructed.
This story shows how difficult it can be to develop as a nation economically and yet maintain a conscientious preservation of nature and the environment. Even renewable energy sources can be damaging in different ways, and even World Heritage sites can be exploited at the whim of governments.
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