A week ago, The Marcus Review started counting the cost of Tasmania’s energy scandal before wondering if Hydro Tasmania had learnt anything from the experience:

Tasmania currently completely renewable

For the first time this year, mainland Tasmania is being continuously and completely powered by renewable energy.

Over the past week, Hydro Tasmania has stopped all diesel generation and wound back gas to prevent spill in smaller hydro storages because of high inflows.

Yesterday, the combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) at the Tamar Valley Power Station was turned off, as continued high inflows push storages close to spilling at a number of locations.

Jo Nova brings our attention to yet another slice of the pie of incompetence being smashed into our faces:

Greedy Green Hubris gone wrong? It took months of bad choices to achieve this Gold-Star Moment in Bad Management:

Tasmania’s state-owned Hydro-electric power generator could face legal action for damages after admitting it cloud-seeded in or near water catchments the day ­before disastrous flooding, although heavy rain was forecast.

When rain was forecast in June the hydro managers must have been delighted, but even faced with the forecasts  they seeded clouds on June 5th as well. (Rivers were rising on June 4 and flood warnings were valid for many areas of Tasmania.) This was the same storm system that hit Sydney on its way to Tasmania, causing deaths and threatened houses. Flood damage and losses from that same system in Tasmania now amount to around $100 million. One man is still missing, feared drowned.

That right, ‘negligent cloud seeding costs’ will now be added to the bill – which has already an opening bid of $560 million (do I hear $1 billion anybody?).

The sad thing is that there isn’t even a shred of sarcasm when I say that ‘this is just another run of the mill cost for the renewable energy sector’. Oh well, I guess that’s just the cost of doing it ‘nature’s way’. Or as our favourite Senator, Sarah Hanson Young, would say: ‘tragedies happen, accidents happen’. They sure do Sarah. They sure do.

In the meantime, I’m just brimming with grim enthusiasm to see what comes next.

For those who love a good dose of cloud seeded irony, have another look at the feature image of this post.

(With grateful thanks to Jo Nova).