Tony Wood writes in The Conversation (23.8.16) about the increasing focus by governments in Australia on gas production and exports, and the implications of this for economic and energy policy.
‘Gas is back on Australia’s agenda in a big way. Last week’s meeting of state and federal energy ministers in particular saw an extraordinary focus on gas in the electricity sector.
‘While the meeting promised major reform for the energy sector, the federal energy and environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, highlighted the need for more gas supplies and “the growing importance of gas as a transition fuel as we move to incorporate more renewables into the system”.
‘Gas is certainly a lower-carbon energy source than coal, but gas prices have soared as Australia begins shipping gas overseas.
‘So what might this mean for energy and climate policy?’