Tories flirt with heresy

[Tamas]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27137184

The Conservatives have said they will not subsidise new onshore wind farms if they win the 2015 general election.

Energy Minister Michael Fallon said any project not granted planning permission before the election would not get funds as the UK would already have enough wind power to meet 2020 EU targets.

He also said councils in England and Wales would be given the "decisive say" on new onshore wind farms from 2015.

A Lib Dem source accused the party of pandering to its right wing.

The source said the Tories were trying to stop voters turning to UKIP.

'No more needed'

Mr Fallon said a "good mixture of reliable energy" was needed and the government was "committed" to cutting carbon emissions.

"Renewable energy, including onshore wind, has a key role in our future energy supply," he said.

"But we now have enough bill payer-funded onshore wind in the pipeline to meet our renewable energy commitments and there's no requirement for any more."

He also said his party would change the law within six months of winning the 2015 election so all onshore wind farm applications would be handled by local planning authorities.

At present large projects in England and Wales are dealt with under the "nationally significant infrastructure" planning regime.

Coalition divide

The government says there is currently enough wind power to provide energy to four million homes, forecast to rise to seven million by 2020.

Department for Energy and Climate Change figures suggest 13.8GW of UK onshore wind power capacity is already built, under construction or has been granted planning permission.

It says that will be enough to meet targets of 11-13GW even if some projects fall through.

BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats had been "at pains to point out how much they disagree about onshore wind farms", with David Cameron "repeatedly saying" subsidies must eventually be brought to an end.

On Tuesday the prime minister said the government "shouldn't keep subsidies for longer than they are necessary".

On Wednesday the government announced approval of eight new renewable energy projects, including offshore wind farms and conversions of coal-powered plants to run on biomass.

Lib Dem Energy Secretary Ed Davey said the move marked a "new stage in Britain's green energy investment boom".

[Brazen]

S'OK, we'll just use chip grease for energy and avoid forming any more "fatbergs" in the sewers to boot.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/apr/07/london-cooking-waste-power-station

What we really need it to start work on more nuclear power plants like about 10 years ago, rather than successive governments hoping it will be the next government's problem.

[mongers]

S'OK, we'll just use chip grease for energy and avoid forming any more "fatbergs" in the sewers to boot.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/apr/07/london-cooking-waste-power-station

What we really need it to start work on more nuclear power plants like about 10 years ago, rather than successive governments hoping it will be the next government's problem.

Nothing to worry about, market forces will solve all problems;


wanders off to look for candles.

[grumbler]

S'OK, we'll just use chip grease for energy and avoid forming any more "fatbergs" in the sewers to boot.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/apr/07/london-cooking-waste-power-station

What we really need it to start work on more nuclear power plants like about 10 years ago, rather than successive governments hoping it will be the next government's problem.

Not to worry; the government is only there to help.  If it looks to you like the government policy is daft, there is something wrong with your vision.

[Jacob]

When you write "Tories flirt with heresy" I expect them to be going against a long established Tory position, not moving away from something they've always been lukewarm on at best.

[Razgovory]

It's a heresy to Tamas.

[Valmy]

I presume Tamas meant something like heresy against the renewable energy religion or something.  Of course you do not want too much of your grid to be powered by something as unpredictable as wind energy, only makes sense for them to want to stop at a certain percentage.

[Valmy]

Nothing to worry about, market forces will solve all problems;


wanders off to look for candles.

Well yeah with too much of the grid being reliant on wind you might suffer brown outs at peak periods.  Might want to stock up.

[Jacob]

I presume Tamas meant something like heresy against the renewable energy religion or something.

Perhaps, but you can't really commit heresy against a religion you've never been part of.

[Razgovory]

I don't think Tamas likes anything that smells of environmentalism, which he regards as a religion.

[alfred russel]

When you write "Tories flirt with heresy" I expect them to be going against a long established Tory position, not moving away from something they've always been lukewarm on at best.

And I expected them to be saying questionable things about our lord and savior jesus christ.

Tamas--I think we agree--questionable thread title.

[Tamas]

Well, here in the UK, it seems you are not allowed to market pretty much anything without claiming it was produced with renewable energy, and/or being freerange. You just don't.

So, saying that there is such thing as too much money spent on renewables seemed like a brave stance.

[derspiess]

I don't think Tamas likes anything that smells of environmentalism, which he regards as a religion.

It seems to be a religion for some.

[Savonarola]

I don't think Tamas likes anything that smells of environmentalism, which he regards as a religion.

It seems to be a religion for some.

Carbon credits are the modern plenary indulgence

[mongers]

I don't think Tamas likes anything that smells of environmentalism, which he regards as a religion.

It seems to be a religion for some.

Carbon credits are the modern plenary indulgence

No I think those are closer to complex financial instruments; those sorts of things tend to work out just fine?