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Post by Progenitor A on Mar 24, 2013 20:40:18 GMT 1
Brooker writes in the Telegraph today of the collective madness that consumes our politicians
Coal-powered stations are closed down with no viable alternative supply of electricity
Power bosses predict power shut-downs in the near future
New nuclear generation is at least 10 years away, and the French companies are demanding similar subsidies to the windmill lot
The stupid ba****s (how else to describe our politicians?) want to make up the electricity deficit with wind generation, but wind generation demands 100% back-up from conventional generation (that we will shortly not have)
We have lost important industries because of our high energy prices that are directly attributable to government 'green' policies
There has been a total and criminal abrogation of responsibility by the daft Milliband and the 'non-toxic' Conservatives
India will build 435 coal-powered electricity generating plants this year and they will produce Britain's annual total CO2 emissions every fortnight!
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Post by fascinating on Mar 24, 2013 21:07:58 GMT 1
Is the shut-down of coal-fired power stations caused by EU regulations, which set limits on CO2 emissions? I know that an aluminium smelter in Northumberland was recently closed because it consumed huge amounts of coal to generate the necessary electricity, and had to be shut down because of new EU emissions regulations.
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Post by principled on Mar 24, 2013 22:03:40 GMT 1
Fascinating, this is part of the email that I sent to my MP.
"Electricity:
a) The closure of coal plants before we have other "firm generation" will lead to a knife edge with regard to supply and demand
(the 25% reserve which was considered appropriate has long since disappeared and will soon be down to 0% at peak times). These plants are being forced to close partly by the rise in the carbon tax and also because of EU regulations* (see below). Insecurity of supply would sound the death knell to any UK industry recovery.
*"Much of the UK’s older coal-fired capacity is facing imminent retirement under the EU’s Large Combustion Plant Directive, which requires highly polluting power plants to close by the end of 2015 or after 20,000 operating hours from January 2008. With low coal prices making coal-fired power plants more profitable that gas, many time-limited coal-fired power plants have raced through their allocated hours already and will close this year: BofA Merrill Lynch estimates 7 GW of coal-fired capacity will come offline this year in the UK". "
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Post by alancalverd on Mar 25, 2013 0:49:43 GMT 1
Here's an interesting statistic for a start
which shows the growing vulnerability of UK energy supply to world prices - i.e. demand from China.
More interesting, though, is the fact that only about 12 % of our primary energy input is turned into electricity, and a fair chunk of that is nuclear or renewable. Closing fossil-fuelled power stations has very little effect on gross fossil fuel demand or carbon emissions, but an enormous effect on our qualilty of life.
However, there is no point in complaining to a politician. The electricity supply industry in the UK is PRIVATISED for your benefit and convenience, and there is no obligation on anyone to supply anything at all.
Politicians can only tell private investors what not to do - i.e. to close stations that do not meet current regulations - and cannot force anyone to do anything. That would be socialist interference in a free market. Give me freedom or give me death? Well, here's the crunch point, at least if you are on life support.
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Post by marchesarosa on Mar 25, 2013 10:21:17 GMT 1
Here's an idea! Why doesn't the state set up public corporations to generate electricity or extract gas to COMPETE with the private sector? It can then be PRO-ACTIVE instead of merely regulatory.
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Post by jonjel on Mar 25, 2013 13:03:41 GMT 1
If it wears a green flag it gets as much funding as possible, and as much subsidy as is needed.
If the word coal is anywhere to be seen, that is very bad news. Despite the fact we are sitting on countless billions of Kw Hrs of the stuff.
Anyone see the recent TV prog on Planning? Sorry not to be able to provide a link. Quite a lot on the wind 'farm' proposed and refused in the Vale of Berkley, not a million miles from me. Having taken these people on a few years ago all that did was confirm that they are about as incompetent and unqualified as I would be on brain surgery. Though with some of those people I would be willing to have a go!
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Post by marchesarosa on Mar 25, 2013 13:28:10 GMT 1
Here is a good letter that you can send to your local MP that I found on Talbloke's Talkshop here, tallbloke.wordpress.com/2013/03/25/letter-to-mps-lobby-the-government-to-modify-climate-change-act-targets/#more-11876Salutation
I understand that the Climate Change Act permits the Minister to alter the emissions target in the light of new scientific evidence. It is not necessary for Parliament to repeal the Act in order to relieve the energy crisis. The Introductory Text reads:
1 (1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure that the net UK carbon account for the year 2050 is at least 80% lower than the 1990 baseline.
2 (1) (a) The Secretary of State may by order amend the percentage specified in section 1(1);
2 (2) (a) if it appears to the Secretary of State that there have been significant developments in scientific knowledge about climate change.
Surely fifteen years of zero warming and the coldest March, since goodness knows when, is evidence enough to justify relaxing the burden of this target, especially as we face an energy crisis caused almost entirely by efforts to meet it? Remember, if the evidence changes to show that warming is still on the cards, it will be possible increase the target again. This seems a much more flexible policy than rescinding the CCA altogether and it would placate the concerns of those who have invested so much in trying to reduce emissions.
Please put it to Cabinet that here is an opportunity to recover the public’s lost confidence in the policy about climate change and to show that Government is capable of taking the right decisions in the light of changing circumstances.
This would allow the immediate salvation of major coal-fired power stations from closure and a cut in the rate of energy price rises. It would also emancipate us from the risks associated with importing so much energy from overseas and help the Balance of Payments substantially. Affordable and secure energy supplies are at the heart of economic recovery and can save millions from the fuel poverty presently threatening them.
This is the right moment, in the midst of a deep freeze in March, to make this statesman-like move. Please do not miss it! |
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Post by alancalverd on Mar 25, 2013 17:38:37 GMT 1
Here's an idea! Why doesn't the state set up public corporations to generate electricity or extract gas to COMPETE with the private sector? It can then be PRO-ACTIVE instead of merely regulatory. Are you crazy, woman? State ownership of the means of production, state control of price, state subsidy of essentials, a command economy...you'd have Mad Margaret turning in her grave, and you'd undo all the good that privatisation has done. The Market must rule! Sell off public assets for pennies, close down half of them, and create a shortage. Then put the price up! That is the route to unlimited profits, and profits mean....more money for the rich! The only surprise is that, with the help of the EU and the Green Fascists, the electricity industry got there before the NHS was fully privatised and water is still affordable. May the Lord have mercy on the next generation. |
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Post by marchesarosa on Mar 25, 2013 17:54:43 GMT 1
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Post by fascinating on Mar 25, 2013 18:10:41 GMT 1
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Post by Progenitor A on Mar 25, 2013 18:42:34 GMT 1
There have been examples of very successful state-owned British Industry
Trouble is government tries to milk them in an attempt to limit personal taxation, therefore they have suffered from poor capital investment.
But nevertheless very successful
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