Solar power 'swaying public opinion'
17th Aug 2012
Solar power is gaining support among Australians - with more and more people seeing the benefits of renewable energy sources, according to one industry expert.
The aptly-named David Green, chief executive of the Clean Energy Council, said recent polls have indicated up to 90 per cent of the population are in favour of sustainable power.
And that's not all. According to David, the evidence for switching to solar power and other renewables is only getting more convincing.
He praised a recent joint publication by the Climate and Health Alliance and the Climate Institute, which painted a bad picture for the fossil fuels industry, particularly in terms of health and wellbeing.
The survey alleged the coal industry alone is responsible for $2.6 billion a year in health problems, with the heart, lungs and nervous system all falling victim to the pollution caused by non-renewable power generation.
It also outlined the hidden costs that arise from producing electricity from coal, with solar PV fetching far better prices.
David said: "This report draws together research to show that a pollution-dependent economy is costing Australia around $6 billion each year in treatment for related diseases."
Nowadays, solar power and other renewables just seem to make more sense to people than the alternatives, he concluded.
Posted by Mike Peacock
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Solar Power