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  6. The NT is already locked into a gas supply deal. Why should we switch to renewables?
What is a time-of-day tariff and why is The Environment Centre NT advocating for it? The NT is already locked into a gas supply deal. Why should we switch to renewables? Last year cloud cover in Alice Springs led to blackouts. Does that mean solar power in unreliable? I often hear the term "smart grid". What does that mean? Is a renewable energy target of 50% of 2030 achievable? How will switching to renewables create jobs for the NT? Can Australia afford to upgrade to renewable energy? If renewables are now cheaper than new-build coal and gas, why do they need subsidies? Does Australia have enough water to support a renewable hydrogen industry? Should nuclear power, or carbon capture and storage, form part of NT's energy mix? Are solar panels and batteries contributing to our waste problem?

The NT is already locked into a gas supply deal. Why should we switch to renewables?

Answer

Holding onto a clunky, highly-centralised, gas-powered grid, is a bit like refusing to upgrade to a smartphone just because your uncle scored a good deal on some old dial telephones a few years ago. We are witnessing every other Australian state upgrade to efficient, networked, fast and agile technology; the NT only shoots itself in the foot if it tries to cling to outdated tech.

Putting aside the moral imperative to upgrade to clean energy, there is a strong economic case to be had with NT’s abundance of solar resources representing an opportunity to revitalise our economy. If we don’t seize it, other states will make better progress and grab market share.

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