Guest Post by Willis Eschenbach
I guess having electricity when you need it is sooooo last century … UK families will have to get used to “only using power when it was available”. That constant electricity at home was dangerous anyhow, the unending hum of the wires can drive a man so insane that the only way to cure him is to make him head of the National Grid …
UK persons … comments?
w.
[Update, for those who believe the above is a faked article, I had Green Sand send me a photo and another scan of the actual newspaper. ~ ctm]
Discover more from Watts Up With That?
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
10 : 10 ?
The UK Energy Minister, Charles Hendry, wants to build a lot more wind turbines and has actually said, “that over time we will be able to reduce support for wind power and other renewable energy technologies as they become more economic”.
Of course Hendry’s not sure when wind power will be economically viable because UK governments, on behalf of the very generous UK taxpayer, have only spent over £2.2 billion subsidising wind power in the last eight years.
But we can be sure that it will take quite some time as the UK government has now pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. Hendry’s going to have to build hundreds of thousands of bird munchers to meet that pledge. Which he intends to do at a cost to taxpayers of £30 billion a year by 2030.
But who is Charles Hendry?
Hendry is the MP who told the UK parliament that, “…although Scientology may be very controversial… undoubtedly, as human beings they do a great deal of good…certainly as an organisation it has gone through serious hoops in terms of making sure it has the right to broadcast on television, satisfying the broadcasting commission that it isn’t a cult.”
Ron would be proud.
Demand the use of vast reserve of shale gas
Welcome to Britain, the first country to industrialize and the first to slip back to Third World status. This is why I am retiring abroad; just hold off on the blackouts until I’m gone.
kramer says:
March 4, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Re: Green Sand says: March 4, 2011 at 1:08 pm
“Its real, I have the paper infront of me”
Anyway to take a picture of the newspaper page and attach it here? I’d like to see the full or half page photo of the paper in a photograph quality photo.
Well here we go, quite new to me so hope it works!
http://oi55.tinypic.com/29o4oea.jpg
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2u7t2ld&s=7
As vboring said… if this is a poorly phrased way to describe a voluntary program of energy usage reduction during peak load times to save money… then there really isn’t so much to worry about. We have the same thing here in northern Minnesota during winter, called “ripple”. When the coldest temperatures arrive (and it gets very cold here) and demand peaks, those on the ripple program have their electric heat reduced. We had this growing up because we had electric heat as well as a fireplace, so on the coldest mornings we’d build a fire and didn’t need the heaters (though a few of them would still work). Saved our family resort $$$thousands every year.
Just another symptom of left-wing delusionalism transformed into policy.
It is time for someone to go full-on Chesterton on these people and write a new version of his great, prescient book, “Eugenics and Its Evils.”
I suggest the title “Greenomics and Its Evils.”
Not a UK person…but…
SERIOUSLY?
Wow…the complete lack of common sense displayed by governments these days astounds me.
The EU runs Britain now. The European Parliament reviews new laws. They are elected on the party list system (you don’t vote for a person, you vote for a party and the party slots in the person they think should have the seat). The European Commission in Brussells makes the law. They are not elected. I think that’s called an “autocracy”. Where do I get a green card please?
Charlie says:
March 4, 2011 at 11:07 am
‘”Within a generation or so, the Unted Kingdom will have become part of the Islamic State of Europe, so getting our electricity supply to match those of so many present day Islamic states seems perfectly understandable”.
Right, just bring in the tents and the camels.
kramer says:
March 4, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Re: Green Sand says: March 4, 2011 at 1:08 pm
“Its real, I have the paper infront of me”
Anyway to take a picture of the newspaper page and attach it here? I’d like to see the full or half page photo of the paper in a photograph quality photo.
Sorry, cocked up second photo try again
http://i52.tinypic.com/2u7t2ld.jpg
I will be honest, I am in the UK, as I walk to my local pub on a night I glance up and admire how many lamp posts we have, if what that article describes became reality there would be a Civil Servant or Politician hanging from every one, fingers crossed.
Although I think not everyone still left over there is a complete energy fruitcake. See this story about approval for a new Gas generation plant in South Derbyshire.
http://www.cnplus.co.uk/sectors/energy/energy-minister-gives-1bn-gas-plant-the-green-light/8612166.article
No-one appears to have noticed that the Dutch Interconnector (wire to Holland) has been finished ahead of schedule (late 2011) and today provided 4.691GWh to the UK. Its capacity is 1GW and with the French Interconnector (2GW) can theoretically provide up to 72GWh/day to the UK grid (assuming the French and Dutch want to sell that much).
http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Interconnectors/Netherlands/
As I type, wind in the UK is providing 154MW (from a nameplate capacity of ~5GW ie around 3.1%) and has provided 0.7% of UK electricity in the last 24 hours.
http://www.bmreports.com/bsp/bsp_home.htm
The UK seems determined to avoid generating its own electricity in an efficient manner. I have no doubt that Dutch and French power is more expensive that domestically generated nuclear electricity but the UK has now had two governments that have behaved like bunnies in the headlights when it comes to making electricity infrastructure decisions.
It will undoubtedly end in tears.
robertvdl says:
March 4, 2011 at 3:01 pm
LaRouchePAC LPAC Weekly Report 3 2 2011
Bunch of BS with all due respect.
Ask the Google and http://www.movements.org/ who is about the ‘spontaneous protests’, just to mention a few of the ‘activists’.
The protests have been staged from A to Z.
There is no food shortage, only to high food prizes thanks to the decline of the dollar, the bio fuel scam and high oil prices.
The protests have been triggered by the same scam artists that have pushed the climate change scam and plan for Global Governance.
What you see is an attempt to create the chaos to enable the First Global World Revolution and you better counter it.
Sitting at a table stating this is all ‘spontaneous’ tells me the guy’s at the table have no clue. http:/green-agenda.com
people will get used to eating when food is available…. umm, NOT. what a ridiculous comment, by the head of national grid.
the era of cheap gas is just beginning with the opening of shale gas in the US and potentially Europe. There will be vast tankers of LNG delivering gas to the coast of Scotland so that power is around when you want it. Sure it might be more expensive… but someone will pay for it.
oh and what about nukes?
Nigel Brereton says:
March 4, 2011 at 10:47 am
We’ll be ok once the solar plants are up and running in Libya, Tunisia and the rest of the North African Mediterranean sea board and we have a cable plugged into Morocco. But what about energy security, don’t worry we will all be Europeans by then or Euromeds I think the new term is.
==========================================================
More importantly, after the first few blackouts, you can follow Tunisa’s lead and go into the streets and get rid of the fools running the ship.
Egypt did it and Lybia is on the way.
I can’t find a reference to Steve Holiday’s quote on the Telegraph’s web site.
I have tried searching for the headline and also Steve Holiday and came up dry.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/?source=refresh
This is very puzzling. Was this an actual print news story that wasn’t included on the web site or is this a prank of some sort?
This is one of the few blogposts on WUWT where a link to the original has not been provided .
I did find a reference to a talk by Steve Holiday on the Guardian Web Site.
It did not contain that quote. He talked about how the UK electrical distribution system was obsolete needed to be upgraded, and that the demand for power will go up, as electric cars will replace gas powered cars. He also pointed out that a smart grid is needed to route the power to where it is needed, and that gas powered generators will be needed to deliver power when demand peaks and other sources can’t deliver.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/mar/01/national-grid-steve-holliday-energy-market
There is a report by the national grid agency which goes over the same ground.
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/postpn_372-future-electricity-networks.pdf
Are we being punked?
Interesting, though perhaps a deliberate attempt to ensure people take energy more seriously and support nukes.. Must admit small scale power generation linked to communities does sound great in terms of freedom from prices hikes etc. Plus of course people taking responsibility, though don’t think they will be either to happy with my plant food producing generator or a micro nuke!…
Bob(Sceptical Redcoat) says:
I propose that England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales each apply to become the 51st, 52nd, 53rd and 54th states of the USA, respectively. Any seconders?
Well, I’ll second it (if only as our beer might thereby be improved 😉
The only “issue”, I think, is that we have this clause about no kings and queens somewhere in our governing law. You would need to lose those particular state welfare recipients from England… I think all the other states would be easily able to join without much fanfare.
You might find the “commonwealth” structure that we’ve used with Philippines and currently with Puerto Rico more convenient, though, as it allows more leeway in what you do domesticaly, what your form of government can be, and easy ingress / egress (should the need arrise) while still granting such niceties as welfare and citizenship (sometimes, as desired…)
More inconvenient problems for Big Green Inc in the U.S.:
“BLYTHE, Calif. — Native Americans are clashing with the federal government over plans to fast-track approval and construction of massive solar energy projects that the Indians fear will harm sacred and culturally significant sites in Western deserts.
Recent lawsuits by two native groups pose a threat to half dozen proposed solar developments that the Obama administration has identified as a high priority in its quest for more clean energy production. One suit already has halted work on a major solar farm in Southern California.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/03/native-americans-sue-govt_n_829087.html
Will be fun watching this play out.
geo says:
March 4, 2011 at 10:46 am
So the Brits would rather sit in the dark than build nuclear plants?
O yes, in the dark AND the cold. We are sadly congenitally muddle-headed. For Britain’s liberal-left ruling elite, logic = fascism.
The “thinking” goes something like this: since nuclear power is so dangerous, we would rather die than have nuclear power stations.
Hospital managers will choose when to have electricity, as will airports, railway systems, etc. Britain will collectively qualify for a Darwin prize.
Larry Hamlin says:
March 4, 2011 at 12:40 pm
CEC tries to fool us.
California won’t be doing anything like what they advertise. It’s a bait and switch. I’m just not sure what they are switching to. It could be as simple as third world status, or it could be modeling for the nation how to pull off a Maoist revolution. Chairman Jerry and the new Cultural Revolution.
In reality, there is no chance we will get anywhere close to 33% renewable or even 20% renewable, without redefining what renewable is. The state legislature considered legislation delaying certain goals. We were supposed to be at 20% RPS by now. Where are we now? They claim 15% [1]. 30% is out of state. To deliver renewable energy from new projects, California will have to construct as many as 7 major power lines, costing roughly $5 to $20 billion [2].
Here is how the CEC puts the best spin on the plan [3]. Yeah, and I’ve got a big orange bridge to sell you.
Gas now, Thorium LFTRs [4] ASAP.
See:
1. http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/CFD76016-3E28-44B0-8427-3FAB1AA27FF4/0/FourthQuarter2010RPSReporttotheLegislature.pdf
2. http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/california-dreaming-achieving-33-rps-could-cost-12b-in-new-transmission/ Note: $12 B is an old figure.
3. http://www.energy.ca.gov/2009_energypolicy/documents/2009-06-29_workshop/presentations/04a_California_Public_Utilities_Commission_33_percent_RPS_Implementation_Analysis.pdf
4. http://energyfromthorium.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=63
Larry Hamlin says:
March 4, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Oops, in my previous post I forgot to put space between his post reference and where I started to reply. I have not quoted anything he said.