Letter to our meddling politicians

The following letter was sent to the Dept of Primary Industries Victoria, Dept of Environment and Dept of Climate Change.

I would like to bring to your attention another piece of evidence that the solar rebate should be abandoned. The manufacturing of solar panels involves the use of the compound nitrogen trifluoride which is a greenhouse gas 17,000 times as potent as carbon dioxide. Thus the entire rationale for using solar energy is proven to be completely wrong and even counter-productive for those who want to reduce greenhouse gases.

The Australian government should certainly not be subsidising a product which contributes to global warming. I hope you consider this information and end all solar rebates.

It does not seem prudent, fair or just to use taxpayers money to fund a rebate for the few homes that install solar energy.

Ultimately it should be up to each individual to judge their own energy needs and balance them with their concerns for the environment. And as shown in this case, it is best that each individual is left to make their own judgement rather than allowing government to judge for the entire population, seeing as governments can make mistakes just like people.

-------------

Potent Greenhouse Gas More Prevalent
in Atmosphere than Previously Assumed

Compound used in manufacture of flat panel
televisions, computer displays, microcircuits, solar panels
is 17,000 times more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide
....
....

Emissions of NF3 were thought to be so low that the gas was not considered to be a significant potential contributor to global warming. It was not covered by the Kyoto Protocol, the 1997 agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions signed by 182 countries.

The gas is 17,000 times more potent as a global warming agent than a similar mass of carbon dioxide. It survives in the atmosphere about five times longer than carbon dioxide.