Monthly research by consultants Pitt & Sherry has shown lower carbon emissions as a result of a decrease in coal’s share in the National Electricity Market to under 75% for the first time. This comes the day before the government announces changes to environmental laws on coal seam gas (CSG) and large coal mining developments.

Research has shown that black and brown fired coal stations supplied record lows of 74.8% of the grids power in the month of February. Renewables (including solar power, wind power and hydro power) also reached a record with a high of 12.5% – gas supplied the remaining 12.7%. At the highest point, around 2008, coal accounted for 84.1% of grid power according to principle consultant at Pitt & Sherry, Hugh Saddler.

Despite record heatwaves around the country, power peaks have not been as sharp as many expected. An increase in solar power most likely accounts for about a quarter of that drop. “The key summer peaks have fallen for each of the past four years in Victoria, the past three in Queensland, and the past two in NSW and South Australia,” the report said. ”Obviously, this has important implications for future spending on network upgrades, which, as everyone now knows, has been the main driver of electricity price rises over the past four or five years.”

Dr Saddler also said that with the high increase in electricity prices that have taken its toll on us all and “people are much more aware of energy use.” The drop comes as there is a shift away from energy-intensive industries and an increase in energy efficiency.

This morning, the announcement came that there will be changes in the law regarding coal seam gas and large coal mining operations. National Environmental Law will be changed to require federal assessment and approval on developments that may have a significant impact on water resources.

Independent MP Tony Windsor said, “It is important to have a process in place to give all involved confidence that any decision made would be based on science and not on short-term economic return to the state governments.”

The decision may be based on science and we may have confidence that the developments are not harming our water supplies but make no mistake – they are still harmful. They are still going to be one of the biggest carbon polluters and produce dirty, expensive energy. Is this a step in the right direction, enforcing tougher laws on dirty energies or not a step forward at all?

With coal fired stations become less and less efficient, clean energy needs to become a bigger contributor of the grid power demands.