Propaganda War Against Carbon Tax

Aluminium Smelter Media Carbon Tax Propaganda

Updated 24 May 2012

HYDRO ALUMINIUM TO CLOSE	Alcoa to review Point Henry smelter at Anglesea
NBN News May 23, 2012	The Climate Citizen February 9, 2012
The carbon tax has claimed its first victim, with Norsk Hydro announcing it intends to close its Hunter aluminium smelter.  The move will put 350 people out of work, affect countless contractors, and have a devastating effect on communities around the plant. The news sparked a furore in federal parliament, with the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader trading barbs, and a Hunter MP ejected.	Alcoa have announced a review of the future of Point Henry Smelter near Anglesea.  Alcoa also has an aluminium plant at Portland with newer technology which employs a similar number of people and is not under review. "A combination of factors, including metal prices, input costs and exchange rates, have resulted in the Point Henry smelter becoming unprofitable," said Alan Cransberg, Alcoa of Australia Managing Director. "...The current situation makes it difficult for Point Henry to be globally competitive in the foreseeable future." "...There is no question mark over the future of the Portland operation, simply because the company has invested in the latest technology there," he said.

Essential Services Media Carbon Tax Propaganda

Melbourne Water, Werribee Photo: Justin McManus

Victorians to pay $5 million more a year for water under carbon tax	The power plays of the future
Matt Johnston | From: Herald Sun May 05, 2012	Adam Morton and Tom Arup | From: The Age July 16, 2011
VICTORIANS will pay an extra $5 million a year for water after Melbourne Water was included on a carbon tax "hit list".  The first 250 companies that have to pay for their pollution from July 1, including Crown casino and La Trobe University, have been named by the Clean Energy Regulator. Melbourne Water's carbon dioxide emissions come mainly from sewage plants, and will be passed on to retailers, who will then slug consumers. It is believed the company will pay an extra $5 million for carbon permits, which will hit households when prices are reset for 2013-14 by the Essential Services Commission.	Partnering with energy company AGL, it built a biogas-fired power plant on site. Methane is captured by air-tight lagoon covers, funnelled in the biogas plant and used to generate about 95 per cent of the energy needed on-site. "People would probably be surprised to know that sewage is effectively powering one of Australia's biggest sewage treatment facilities. It's the ultimate feedback loop," said Melbourne Water spokesman Paul Pretto. While cutting odour has been the main driver, the organisation estimates the biogas program has cut the plant's emissions by 330,000 tonnes since 2005, and reduced its annual energy bill by about $3 million. Another $2 million a year has been saved at its Eastern Treatment Plant at Bangholme. Melbourne Water is one of about 500 companies facing the carbon price - its two treatment plants emit about 180,000 tonnes a year, equating to a $4.1 million bill - but it says its liability has already been dramatically reduced. It is still evaluating the impact of the carbon price, but expects investment in biogas to become more attractive.