Statewide blackout in Australia raises questions over renewable energy

Power was restored to the state of South Australia on Wednesday after storms a day earlier caused an unprecedented statewide blackout which disrupted operations at mining majors like BHP Billiton, closed ports and halted public transport. The blackout of the country's fifth most populous state, with 1.7 million people, prompted calls on Thursday for an inquiry into the power sector and questions over whether the state's reliance on renewable energy exacerbated the situation. "Let's focus now and