I am an atheist, a sceptic and a scientist. I am not a "climate change denier" and agree with the empirical evidence of ice ages, sea level changes and understand that the earth has both warmed and cooled in its history.

My work revolves around investigation and developing funding models from actual experience using data, evidence and software.

I need to understand the cause before I act and will rarely act on belief. As a matter of fact, I will actively work against belief systems in order to uncover the underlying vested interests and get to the truth.

I am not convinced of the science around global warming and climate change, HOWEVER, this does not mean that we shouldn't work towards reducing waste, reducing our impact on the earth or reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.

It can also make economic sense to improve our level of self sufficiency, especially in rural environments.

What scares me is extremism in all its forms, religious extremism, racial extremism, political extremism, home birthing extremism and now climate change extremism.

If we close our minds to discussion and alternative points of view we lose the ability to get to the truth and may be led down the garden path.

From what I can tell, there is very little discussion about an important driver of climate change - THE SUN!

Solar energy is the driver of all energy on the earth, even fossil fuels (photosynthesis -> vegetable matter -> decay and compression -> oil and gas). It is well known that the sun determines the long term climate changes and it is poorly incorporated into existing climate modelling. There is, on average, a 22 year solar cycle (or a bipolar 11 year cycle) that produces variations in the TSI (Total Solar Irradiation) of the earth. This may have long term impacts on the climate of the earth and is being studied by NASA, SIDAC and the ESA.

If solar activity is the reason for the changes in the earth's surface temperature then CO2 might be a natural response to this. Evidence has shown that the level of CO2 has been higher in the past, and the surface temperature has also been higher in the past.

There is an anthropogenic contribution to the current level of CO2 (that is, humans have contributed to the current rise in CO2) however, throwing everything at trying to reduce CO2 may be the wrong way to go. Later, when we find the right way, we may have nothing in reserve to fix it.

Despite these misgivings, I have:

• made biodiesel out of waste oil to meet half of my diesel fuel needs
• installed solar hot water at my house in Pipers Creek

and I continue to:

• reduce, re-use and re-cycle
• investigate wind, solar and fuel cell options to power my home and busness
  
• work towards installing cogeneration at Kyneton Hospital
• work towards installing locally owned and load balanced wind power, suitable for local needs

A very simple argument constructed from four points

1) Wind turbines are machines that are prone to mechanical failure.

2) When they fail they can Cause Fires and throw oil and debris for hundreds of metres.

3) Wind Turbines have a height of 155m and spin at 300km/h, therefore helicopters and other aircraft used in fire suppression cannot fly around them.

4) The power transmitted by these generators is carried by above ground transmission wires, that are the cause of bushfires in high wind situations. As was the case on Black Saturday and on numerous other occasions in Victoria’s history.

My argument is that, in Victoria, these generating facilities should not be constructed in fire prone areas, or next to forested areas. Particularly one such as Macedon Ranges where the location of the proposed Sidonia Hills Wind Farm is located north and north west of Mt Macedon and the heavily forested Cobaw Ranges. The location of the proposed wind farm to the north and northwest of these forested and populated areas is significant as the prevailing winds on catastrophic bushfire days is from these directions.

On February 7th 2009, the most devastating fire in the area began in Redesdale and stopped in Sidonia, due to a wind change. If conditions similar to these occurred again, and one of the 450 foot high wind turbines started a fire, what hope would there be in 1) fighting a fire without helicopters or planes, or 2) keeping it out of the Cobaw forest, Newham and then Mt. Macedon?

There are currently plans to construct 34 turbines in Sidonia and 50 turbines in the McHarg Ranges? With the wind, smoke, and 450 foot turbines rotating at 300 km/h the CFA would have been unable to use water bombing aircraft.

If a machine has a catastrophic failure, it would have added to the complexity of the fire as these devices cannot be extinguished, all you can do is stand around and put out the fires that are started by the flaming oil and debris. This flaming debris can be thrown 500 metres away from the turbine, possibly even more in high wind situations.

There have been no finalised plans, however the above ground power lines for the Sidonia project are planned to go through the remnant vegetation of Gooch's Lane, parallel to the Cobaw State Forest.

We should act now to demand that our politicians understand the true impact of these turbines on the fire behaviour and the possible loss of life and property in this area. If this situation should ever occur, we need to know who should be held accountable for allowing this risk to be foisted upon an unwilling and unwitting community.

The following links demonstrate the tendency for these generators to cause fires within Australia and overseas:

Australian Experience:

January 22nd 2006 Lake Bonney Wind Turbine Fire due to electrical failure during a heat wave more here. 

February 3rd, 2009 Cathedral Rocks Wind Turbine Fire due to unknown causes, possibly lightning strike

International Experience:

March 6th 2009 Noble New York. The Altona wind energy facility which went on line in early 2009 lost a turbine due to collapse. The project consists of 65 GE 1.5 MW turbines. No explanation for the collapse has been released. The turbine caused a fire when the nacelle hit the ground. New York State failure

December 2nd 2008 Nebraska.  A 262 foot wind tower northwest of Bloomfield Nebraska burst into flames. Officials say three men were injured in the fire. One was sent by Life Flight to Sioux City with extensive burns.

March 28th 2008 Ewington Minnesota

March 10th 2008 California

January 17th 2008  Mt Storm, West Virginia. A fire started during routine maintenance of a turbine. 

October 3rd 2007 Garner, Iowa

February 27th, 2007 Dodge Centre, Rochester US (this article no longer available but here is the text)

"Lightning hits wind turbine, starts fire"

From staff reports 

DODGE CENTER -- A wind turbine near Dodge Center lost one of its blades Friday night when lightning struck it and started a fire.

The Rochester Fire Deparment was called to the fire because it had the closest long-ladder truck. Its 100-foot ladder was used to help extinguish the fire at 11:15 p.m.

One rotor blade was lost, but fire officials were uncertain if the fire reached the generator portion of the device, which could compound the loss.

February 23rd 2007Wind turbine fire in Inishowen  (Ireland) 

October 2006 Taiwan due to an overheated generator

December 24th 2005 Nissan factory Wearside UK

West Park UK Review including turbine failures and debris being thrown 500mtrs.

Bethany Community Review covers most issues including the impacts of fire and failure