Green “vision” wins fans
Tory plans for renewable enrgy welcomed.
I am still sceptical and cynical when I read anything which has the words climate change attached to it, but I am a realist who knows and understands that Britain’s energy needs at present are insecure and many come from unstable countries such as the former USSR. Additionally, fossil fuels will be in incredibly short supply at the rate at which we consume them, therefore there is a good deal of common sense in trying to source our energy needs using new technologies in the future.
The Conservatives new “green economy” plans will involve making £6,500 available to energy suppliers to make every home more energy efficient, the costs would be recouped through the energy bills and the new smart metering system. Suppliers would not be seeing immediate recovery because energy savings ought to lead to lower bills. Having said all that, this flat where I live with my family is fully insulated and draught proofed and enjoys double glazing too, yet our energy bills addd up to £100 per month, something tells me that while some of us have been doing something to reduce our consumption, others are reaping a whirlwind of benefits as the wholesale price of oil and gas rose last year!
The Conservative green paper, The Low Carbon Economy has already found fans including Greenpeace executive director John Sauven and Dave Timms, senior parliamentary campaigner at Friends of the Earth. Timms said:
“They have embraced the possibilities of a dynamic and innovative smart [electricity grid] which we think is really good. They seem to be aiming to secure the maximum level of renewables and for finding innovative ways to reduce our energy demand. The government has struggled with some of these concepts – it’s a really strong vision [from the Conservatives] and we’re pleased to see them doing that.”
Also included in the plans are a network of recharging outlets for the electric vehicles of the future , using biogas to replace 50% of our heating needs, making use of tidal power to create electricity, the ability for small consumers to feed energy back into the national grid (i.e. install solar panels on your roof and sell surplus energy to the state).
Ed Miliband Labour’s spokesman was obviously taken by surprise with the announcement, so could only parrot the line about being a so nothing party – pathetic!
