It’s the Great Reset in Global Energy complacency
There is pandemonium on the markets and suddenly many nations want to be energy sufficient. It’s perhaps not The Great Reset than the collective-types were expecting?
The gas flows from Russia to the EU are sporadically tightening, and the Yamal-Europe line has been cut off. Gas in Europe is now trading at €340/MWh which is fully 22 times the long term average. Newcastle coal normally trades around $60 per ton, but now is over $400 USD.
A few days ago the former head of MI6 in the UK called for an immediate lifting of the frakking ban which was set to see concrete poured down the only two shale gas wells in England by March 15th. Thirty-five Tory MPs and four peers sent a letter to Boris demanding the same thing. Now even Boris Johnson is suggesting the Green targets could be relaxed, not just for Britain, but for all the West. He went so far as to suggest The West could give itself a “climate change pass” while we figure out how to get energy that isn’t Russian gas.
So much for the end of Fossil Fuels
@Ole_S_Hansen head of Commodity Strategy at Saxo Bank
“margin calls and illiquid trading conditions adding to the panic”
Major swings in everything. From top left: Dutch Gas, TTP, European Gas storage, Gas flows from Russia, Carbon credits, and Coal forward contracts. | Twitter. Click to Enlarge.
Brilliant: A referendum on Net Zero
Nigel Farage launched a campaign Britain Means Business seeking to force a referendum on the Government’s plan to achieve “net zero” carbon emissions in the UK by the middle of the century.
Who could argue with that, apart from all the people that know the voters don’t want Net Zero if they have to pay for it.
Green Blob has it’s own crisis — how to stay relevant
Imagine an army of community groups suddenly roaming the countryside to save Britain from Vladimir by explaining heat-pump grants and waving infra red detectors at their drafty doors?
It all seems a tad artificial. If the planet was at stake they could have done this all along. Why now?
UK should ‘mobilise army of volunteers’ to transform energy landscape
The Guardian
John Taylor, the energy projects manager at Energy Hub, argues that the UK should be convening local groups that can help give advice on grants for insulation and heat pumps, set up community-owned renewable projects, and help with insulation.
“Volunteers can be provided with thermal imaging cameras to go door to door,” he suggested. They can help “identify cold spots and installing simple measures like draft proofing and radiator panels. They can also help set heating controls and lower boiler flow temperatures.”
He also suggests that community groups can “run a village survey to find out who needs items like DIY loft insulation and draft proofing kits. Then order them wholesale to get bulk discounts and deliver them to a community centre or village hall for people to collect.”
Vladimir Putin might be the best thing that ever happened to Western Energy independence.
UPDATE: Latest news is that Russia says it will end the War on four conditions. Ukraine must stay neutral, recognize Crimea is Russian and that Donestsk and Luhansk are independent. In reply, Zelensky has already done an interview saying “No” but Putin needs to start a dialogue. Zelensky suggests that Putin is in a bubble and may not be getting realistic information.
In a speech by Boris Johnson (edited) at the weekend he said in a rare burst of energy reality;
“What we need to do is help wean the world off Russian gas and the UK wants to bring countries together so that they stop being so dependent.
The Americans are offering huge quantities, the Canadians have a lot, the Qataris, the Saudis.
What we need to do is bring together a coalition of the hydrocarbon producing countries to help in this tough … Algeria is another very good example.
There are huge reserves around the world. We do not have to be beholden to Putin in the way that we are.
You mention the Baltics, and Finland, those countries, and you’re right, Germany and Italy, there are still heavy dependencies.
But everybody’s capable of moving away from dependence on hydrocarbons at all.
So what we can do is help them in the short term by trying to find alternative supplies, but move as the UK has done towards other solutions.
We have a huge amount of that comes from renewables and we’re working with the Baltics and other countries to increase their renewable capacity.
We also think that here in the UK, we’re going to do a lot more on nuclear. I think it was crazy that under the Labour government allowed our nuclear generation to fall away.
I think we’ve got to recognise that hydrocarbons in the interim are going to be part of the solution. And if it comes to metallurgical coal, for instance, to fire out our steel plants, why would you buy that in from Australia when you can get it from the UK?
“So I just think we need to have a big big mix of solutions but we need to help the world to go beyond Putin’s gas.”
221
He still thinks that “renewables” are the answer.
Part of the problem in the UK is due to the failure of those wind turbines in the North Sea to deliver what was expected. Russian gas is around 4-6% of UK usage but demand has shot up due to the failure of those wind turbines in the North Sea to deliver and their lunatic Energy Policy.
300
The UK PM should take a drive out to Lancashire. could be an enlightening trip for him to realise the answer is in his backyard. His missus will not be happy, though.
60
Jonesy
Here is a good place for him to see on his trip to The Fylde.
The Elswick Gas Field wellhead
20
Bozo is all words and no action. The real PM, Princess Nut Nut, won’t allow him to take the necessary actions.
40
Has he OKed that with Carrie, Let Them Wear Woolies, Antoinette.
30
We have been insulating our lofts for decades in the UK so It is difficult to believe that those who want insulation haven’t already got it
many lofts have been converted to rooms and would have been insulated then, others like me have been shoving loft insulation between the joists for years.
All modern houses would be insulated when built
I have my boiler at just the setting I want, thank you.
Don’t know if that is the same for modern iPads but my classic iPad already has a thermal imaging facility which is quite interesting to view . As for draughts you have to be careful about stopping air circulating as ventilation is essential in our damp climate
190
As for draughts you have to be careful about stopping air circulating as ventilation is essential in our damp climate
Besides fresh air for your own lungs
Here in Seaside Sydney – ducted external small gas heater for winter on drive next to house – 2 great Rheem Gas Hot Water Heaters for – Hot Water
For Summer, as we get NE Sea Breezes (Gales?) – leave open 3 locked screen doors for Air Conditioning by flow through Air
70
“ventilation is essential”
There must be an air intake that has at least the same cross-sectional or equivalent area as the flue from any gas or sold fuel device. Preferably under-floor to the hearth, eg not located level with any part of your anatomy. Been there, done that, glad I don’t have to any more.
30
It will be a lot cooler before the end of this decade — that’s only eight years away, now.
Don’t forget: we have entered a Grand Solar Minimum. The Northern Hemisphere winters have not exactly relaxed and the Southern Hemiphere winters will follow suit. We are seeing the return of regional ice already.
If they are both aided and abetted by large volcanic eruptions, the chill will really set in.
In the meantime, the polar “blasts” over the winters are sufficient to keep the carbon and hydro-carbon fuels gaining much greater popularity.
Look to growing your own food, too. 2028 might just be the start of food shortages. Colder times bring shorter growing seasons and along with cooling — hello food shortages. So start planning and preparing this year.
130
Ah well, IT IS THE SUN STUPID !
to paraphrase Bill Clinton.
We are now just about the peak of global warming in the historical cycle that has been known for many many years.
The cycle is about 600 to 1000 years long and was at minimum in the “Little Ice Age” at the beginning of the 19th century.
In another 100 years there will be no argument about it as there will be a noticeable cooling. Remember the Roman Warming, the Medieval Warming, the Little Ice Age and the Modern Warming !
The conventional “Global Warming” is all based on a fundamental error made at the start of the AGW panic !
70
Tucker Carlson interviewed an Iowan farmer recently. He farms 16000 acres and uses 200 lb Nitrogen, 100 lb Potassium and 100 lb Phosphorus per acre for his annual crop, be it corn, soybean or wheat. The fertilizer comes mainly from Russia and is 40% more expensive this Spring planting. He suggested the average family food bill could rise $1000 per month and that there would be shortages. Don’t forget that a lot of US corn goes into Ethanol and that gas is used to make Nitrogen. Gas is also needed to keep the lights on when the wind stops.
As an aside and to show what dumb people we are expecting to lead us Mr Albanese was enthusiastically talking up electric care as the price of fuel heads over $2 per litre. He said ” Solar panels on the roof and charge your car overnight”. Mensa material right there.
110
It will be very interesting to see how the debate on fracking develops as green activists have brainwashed locals into believing major earthquakes will happen. We have huge reserves that can be developed which will be much better than importing it.
With prices set to soar will people put price and availability before minor disturbances to the environment?
280
Australia has massive reserves, but fracking is banned in most (all?) states. Farmers have joined the Green Bandwagon, because the Law here provides them with little in the way of compensation for plant/roads built on their properties. If we provided them with a small royalty for gas mined from their properties, we’d see a massive turnaround.
391
As a farmer I am not excited about any compulsory use of my land. I have always believed, as many do, that the new small nuclear plants are the answer to alternate energy.
330
Yes, but when will these mini reactors actually come on line? We need power now.
130
Understandable Vicki but what if you were offered a deal that in order to put wells in on your land you would receive more money in royalties per year than you would make in ten years from farming .
180
The farmers and graziers are not too happy with that prospect.
‘While landholders in NSW own the surface land of their properties, most resources that exist below the earth’s surface belong to the state of NSW. The production of these resources contributes royalties, economic benefits and energy security for the people of NSW.’ (Regional.gov)
80
Ah Vicky, every farmer I have ever talked to when I was in the game would gladly open the gate if they shared in the money.
73
Yep There is currently no upside for the land owner.
40
“compulsory use of my land”
Its the “compulsory use” nonsense that is ridiculous.
No-one should have that compulsion.
You should have the choice, and with that choice, some financial or other benefit.
10
ps, like wind turbine subsidy farming, where the landowner gets a kick-back.
10
Tim
I attended a protest in the city against the huge Ausnet towers to bring the electricity from the wind farms in Western Victoria into the grid. They believe the solution is to put the cables underground greatly increasing the cost of renewables. Most of the speakers emphasised that the farmers were not against renewables as such but against the environmental damage , the increased fire risk, the decrease in property values and the destruction of forest and trees.
I thought be careful what you wish for .The consequences of shutting down a perfectly good energy system and replacing it with one that is not fit for purpose are so evident. Only the Liberal Democrat politician Tim Quilty pointed out that putting the wires underground added to the cost of renewables and that nuclear needs to be in the mix.
It’s time for the farming communities to realise that renewables are not the answer and there are consequences. Yes, putting the wires underground is a worthwhile cause which buries the environmental problem that has been created but the added cost and the fact that the energy is unreliable ( without baseload back up) means that if they have a desire to have a net zero future that nuclear must be part of ( and a big part) of the solution.
50
I saw many gas and oil wells in Alberta. Once established the cattle were grazing right next to them and they were of little hindrance to cropping. The farmers were paid for the oil or gas coming from their wells and some would turn off the taps waiting for a better price. Highways were co-located with oil and gas pipelines and smaller oil wells were pumped into tanks which were emptied by contract tanker drivers. It all worked very harmoniously. The great difference; the farmers were paid just as they are paid to host wind turbines.
40
Sorry Tim (and Tony) but that is not true, very little shale gas has been defined in Australia, most so called reserves are wishful thinking or arm waving. The Beetalo Basin in the NT is about the best prospect at the moment but even that has along way to go
20
12.5 % commission for the land holder works well!
00
The entire EXISTENTIAL THREAT garbage is the greatest con and fra-d for 200 years and after wasting endless TRILLIONS of $ since 1990 we need to wake up and return to fossil fuels again and hopefully Nuclear energy.
China and Russia have exploited our weaknesses , but perhaps we can return to using plain commonsense and again follow the recognised data since the start of the Industrial Revolution and try to understand why we’ve become so healthy and wealthy in such a short time.
We’re living in the very best of times and govts + the IPCC should stop lying to their people. None of this is difficult to understand and anyone can look up the data quickly, in fact in just a few minutes.
So what’s their problem?
230
The ‘GREAT BANKRUPTCIES RESET’ is the only avenue left if you stick with the US Dollar as reserve currency as inflation keeps going up no matter what the US Government does.
It’ll make it worse as these restrictions and bans can only blowback/boomerang on the United States to hold alliances as they’re economies tank trying to keep businesses from bankruptcy.
70
Don’t panic — the existential threat may be drawing closer.
You will be able to see how the Little Ice Age progressed for yourselves:
https://www.thegrandsolarminimum.com/what-is-grand-solar-minimum/maunder-minimum/
This GSM has been forecast to be a more or less repeat of the Maunder but not by me. I think it will be more of a repeat of the Dalton Minimum — 1795 – 1830. That was a pretty rough time any way, with Mt Toba et al and the Year Without A Summer. You can get the feel for it by reading Charles Dickens novels — they were set during the Dalton Minimum.
So we will see.
Enjoy. (if you can)
60
The “Existential Threat” for the warming we have had is definitely a con, our species evolved as a “warm times” species, and temperatures have definitely cooled since that event therefore the incoming cooling may well be existential if we didn’t have a handy invention we know as “clothing.”
If you can’t survive in comfort without clothing, then it’s already too cool.
See “Rapid range shifts and megafaunal extinctions associated with late Pleistocene climate change”
(Seersholm et al)
You never know: we may be the megafauna this time around.
Warning: Tinfoil hats won’t work.
70
That was aluminium foil hats which didn’t work.
There was an MIT paper in 2005, so it must be true.
20
sophocles:
I think you are confusing Mt. Toba (approx. 74,000 years ago) on Sumatra with Mt. Tambora (1815) on Sumbaya.
Toba was big! It is estimated that it dropped the global temperature by 5℃ and caused a drought in NWAfrica which caused (modern) humans to cross to the Middle East and parts further.
10
People generally like the idea of heat pumps but only because they don’t realise the downsides.
A heat pump at £20000 . Much better insulation at 20000 . upgrading of the pipes and radiators at 10000 . Finding somewhere to put the water tank needed. Then you have an unsightly and noisy heat pump sitting by your kitchen door. In our climate heat pumps will take hours to warm up and will likely need auxiliary heating at various times.
Quite where they are to come from and who will fit them is another matter, as is where the electric will come from to power them and that if you go all electric with a car as well, the electricty supply will need upgrading
211
Yes Tonyb and even more TOXIC S & W disasters and you’ll still have ZIP energy when the wind vanishes at night and the Solar idiocy must also store the dilute, unreliable energy when the Sun doesn’t shine.
Anyone who thinks they can run a modern country with the TOXIC S & W lunacy should have a cold shower and look up the data for themselves.
210
Neville:
President Biden has extolled the benefits of electric vehicles as with solar panels on your roof you can recharge your car cheaply when you get home.
Then your charged car battery can be used to supply the grid as some Greens think possible.
10
Heat pumps ( or similar technology ) are installed in split system air con units. In the dead of winter here in Southern Australia, they are useless for instant heat in the early hours of the morning. They take forever to absorb heat from surrounding atmosphere of the outside unit. They always have to be timed to turn on at least 1 hour before waking up. Hence, I can understand your skepticism in getting them to work in a really cold climate. This is like going back to wind power, ignoring the laws of physics and thinking that source of power will provide baseload capacity When the going gets tough and its cold you need high levels of radiant heat.
100
“Vladimir Putin might be the best thing that ever happened to Western Energy independence.” Not doing much for the people of Ukraine! The psyche of the world is also troubled by his threat of nuclear war!! Send him to Siberia!
69
Fuel prices are going to increase a lot, and they already have in the US, and other places over the last 12 months. This will provide the excuse to push “renewables” even harder.
100
Fossil fuels still provide over 80% of a much larger GLOBAL energy pie ( check 1990 to 2020 data) and yet we have loonies who still believe we can switch to the TOXIC S & W disasters?
Yes these fools actually believe we can cover this massive increase in Fossil fuel energy since 1990 and ALSO accomplish net zero in less than 30 years?
Why can’t they look up even the IEA data or Wiki or UN since 1990 for themselves?
None of this is difficult and yet every country seems to avoid this very simple task and have done so for the last 30 years.
150
Ha! Wondering how many solar panels it will take to power a jumbo jet!
60
I wonder how many regular folks, living where something “Green” was built, actually realized that it was likely Potemkin energy, and the facilities replaced were simply problems exported. Well, now they know, or if they “knew”, now understand what changing your energy dependence from a domestic or friendly supplier to a nasty one can mean. Also, that slightly higher prices can become massive economic hits. Also that, in refusing to return to prior solutions, their leaders are utterly bonkers.
These folks are doing what they did before, just going to work every day trying to get by. Many of them are in situations where public evidence of a changed mind can be hazardous to one’s situation, so they remain quiet. But they are now like the water behind a dam that’s cracked.
There will be a blizzard of lies to paper over the damage, and deflect blame. But having to choose between rent, food, or fuel concentrates the mind; if it wasn’t the problem under the last government by the other folks, giving them another chance makes some sense.
Those in power know this, and in every country I can think of, and in Canada and the US most aggressively, have tried to morph the system to prevent this periodic and ordinary change-over from occurring. We’ll soon know, won’t we?
70
Around that
“WE (The US) Started This War”
https://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=245343
10
To Protest Russia, Ivan Drago Blurred Out Of Rocky IV
March 5th, 2022 – BabylonBee.com
https://babylonbee.com/news/to-protest-russia-ivan-drago-blurred-out-of-rocky-iv?utm_source=Gab&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=Gab
20
Let’s have a look at our GLOBAL increase in co2 emissions and also co2 levels from 1990 to 2017.
Look at the WORLD co2 emissions increase of 63.5% 1990 to 2017 or just 27 years.
And WORLD Aviation co2 emissions increased by 109.8% 1990 to 2017.
Also WORLD Shipping increased by 82.2% as well.
But co2 levels increased from about 355 ppm in 1990 to about 406.76 ppm in 2017.
But co2 levels in 2021 were about 416.45 ppm or a jump of at least 9.5 ppm compared to 2017.
And nearly all of that increase in GLOBAL co2 emissions since 1990 were sourced from China, India and other developing countries.
The USA and the EU 28 combined co2 emissions haven’t increased since 1990. Look it up for yourselves.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions
60
Just to be accurate the EU 28 + USA co2 emissions dropped by a combined 19.1% from 1990 to 2017.
Look up the Wiki data for yourselves. And USA population in 1990 was 252 million and increased to 325 million by 2017 and about 333 million in 2022.
THINK about it?
50
In Australia the drop in emissions pretty much matched the drop in manufacturing – I think in America the term for the loss of manufacturing is ‘rust belt’. Seen it in the US and it does not look pretty. I saw places where there had been industrial or commercial buildings but which were now demolished. The people in the US are in even more fragile service industries, except for those out of it on the streets, clearly not producing much CO2 to atmosphere except emitted in the transportation of their drugs.
40
Sorry Neville, but you are making an unsubstantiated assumption that all the increase in CO2 is entirely due to human population activities.
Assumptions are no basis for any conclusion !
31
Assumptions are no basis for any conclusion?
Do a science degree and get back to me.
09
Only about 15% of the increase in atmospheric plant food is down to human release of CO2 from sequestered carbon.
00
Chad here again is what I actually said about the USA + EU co2 emissions REDUCTION since 1990.
I also said something of the USA’s pop growth since 1990. I could include 1970 to 2022, but I’ve also referred to that period as well in other previous comments.
But I certainly DON”T assume what you claim at all.In fact some warming from increased co2 emissions may only be a small part of temp change and natural variability could easily be more substantial. Who knows?
“Neville”
March 8, 2022 at 8:53 am · Reply
“Just to be accurate the EU 28 + USA co2 emissions dropped by a combined 19.1% from 1990 to 2017.
Look up the Wiki data for yourselves. And USA population in 1990 was 252 million and increased to 325 million by 2017 and about 333 million in 2022.
THINK about it”?
40
Tell me, re is GA. Where is the drop in CO2?
40
10
That is what you said..
That says that ALL the increase in global CO2 comes from specific countries human activities as measured by their emissions !
That is an ASSUMPTION !
There is no proof ..scientific or otherwise… that those emissions were the cause of the global CO2 increase!
10
Worldometers provide us with a world population projection to 2050 and clearly the increase of another 1.5 + billion people should further prove that their net zero lunacy by 2050 is delusional nonsense.
And over 80% of that increase will come from Asia, Africa and South America. Anyone not understand this DATA?
But I remind everyone again that Africa added 1 billion more people since 1970. So the above projection is very likely.
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-region/
50
For Donestsk and Luhansk to be independent, they would have to be independent of Russia and not be part of the Russian Federation.
Independence from Russia would mean no permanent Russian military installations and in particular no missile installations controlled directly or indirectly by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Putin’s four conditions are mutually inconsistent.
52
Putin is one of the most logical leaders at present (not saying much) – ponderous, heavy and logical. Putin’s terms are that the Donestsk and Luhansk areas are not ruled by Kiev. The Soviets set the borders, and Putin is saying he is re-setting them as an outcome of Kiev-led Ukraine deciding to join NATO. Putin is dividing it up as together in Ukraine (with Crimea) they make it the 2nd biggest nation in Europe after Russia. Divided off there is 3 smaller nations with Russia taking Crimea (its naval base), which are much less of a threat to Russia. The precedent was set with Yugoslavia. Even at the time Germany knew that their involvement in breaking up Yugoslavia was issue as US led NATO shattered the global order. As Germany with huge permanent US military installations to the level of 60,000 personnel, Poland with US bases and UK gear in it and Belarus now with Russian gear in it show, they can be independent and also have other nations military installations. If not Australis is not independent, because we have US personnel and permanent installations based here (including soon another base with some nuclear subs). Putin ponderously sets out his reasons, you and I may disagree with them, but it is worth knowing them as it turns out. It is worth also asking Zelenskyy-led Kiev’s positions, because they need to be logical and consistent with reality of the facts on the ground, such as knowing what military capabilities are needed to take on Russia before rejecting Russian ultimatums, because surely they knew as even the crassest UK intellect inhabiting the pages of Daily Mail UK knew that NATO coming in to fight for Ukraine would be nuclear WW3. I think you may need to reconsider what you understand by independence and what exists pragmatically globally.
62
The strategic purpose of nuclear arms is to resolve a direct conflict or set limits on the escalation of a direct conflict between nuclear armed states.
Putin’s threat is that any western nation who gets directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine will thereby trigger WW3.
Acting to prevent an ill-conceived invasion by Russia of another state is not an existential threat to Russia itself. Putin’s belief and his threat based on that belief demonstrate that he one of the least logical leaders at present.
I’d have thought even the crassest intellects inhabiting Pravda Street could understand that much.
54
Jan…
When the Soviet Union broke up, Russia signed an agreement guaranteeing Ukrainian sovereignty, INCLUDING the right to enter into treaties and alliances without requiring Russian permission.
NATO is not a political unity in the way that the Warsaw Pact was. It has never sent 200,000 troops into a member state to enforce political orthodoxy the way that the Soviets did to Czechoslovakia. It has never forced a member state to endure a famine as Ukraine was forced to endure the Holodmor – the great starvation that killed 3.5 MILLION Ukrainians.
NATO is a defensive alliance that poses zero threat to Russian security in any circumstances not precipitated by Russian aggression. Putin is not being honest. He is not acting rationally with any other view than to start rebuilding the Russian Empire, the breakup of which he has described as the greatest geopolitical tragedy in history. This is a man who admires Stalin.
Think about that….
53
Biden Sells Alaska Back To Russia So We Can Start Drilling For Oil There Again
March 7th, 2022 – BabylonBee.com
https://babylonbee.com/news/biden-sells-alaska-back-to-russia-so-we-can-start-drilling-for-oil-there-again?utm_source=Gab&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=Gab
50
Cannot present an image so the link will suffice. Inexorably, the trace gas rises!
30
That continued increase in atmospheric CO2 is great news for environmental sustainability. 🙂
20
Of course they would have been going ‘grass-roots’ if there was a real ‘existential’ threat (and I thought that the existential threat was treated in The Plague, by Camus!), but it isn’t and they haven’t. And now we see the real motive: buy more thermal imaging cameras. I’ll bet their shares have been boosted.
But seriously now; in the 70s when we were heading for another ice age, there was lots of talk about simple energy saving measures, as the article mentions now. The fact that no one cared indicated oodles of cheap energy but also a lack of appreciation as to how useful such measures are. Go to it, I say. Insulate, double glaze, block drafts, build warmth-locks at your entry doors, build insulated slab-on-ground and Bob is uncle.
10
It is a measure of Mr & Mrs Johnson’s ignorance to criticise HM Opposition for the UK’s nuclear energy neglects. Thatcher, in her first term promised to start building a new nuclear power site every year for a decade. Only one got started –Sizewell B – before her attention shifted to gas – because it was cheaper. Mr & Mrs J could do worse than to invest heavily in both meaning the shale gas under our feet and large and smaller scale nuclear sites strategically dotted around the Kingdom with enough over capacity to ensure our grids never fail. We would also be a net exporter of energy and/or fuel rather than an importer.
It is a measure of the couple’s ignorance that they don’t want to press ahead with fracking for fear, I assume, of the likely wrath such a decision would provoke from ‘greenies’ and in spite of the fact the gas is pure, clean, and very efficient in use and it will last for many decades even allowing for export.
The object of any energy exercise according to Thatcher was ‘competitive cost’ (which is why there was no real push for nuclear while other fuels offered a better deal including cheap coal). And, unfortunately, that is why UK Energy policy has remained such a mess throughout the 21C.
Surely common sense says that any nation that has access to fuel that can be converted to energy should use it in order to be energy secure and self-sufficient and the more ways the merrier (but not solar or wind turbines except for specific and local use e.g. pumped hydro).
It is said that after Thatcher left office her ‘climate change/ global warming outlook’ was much cooler and less convinced that burning fossil fuel was a problem than it was when she set up the Hadley Centre of the UK’s Met Office.
Clearly politics destroys grey matter (given you had some to start with) whoever you are.
30
Petroleum IS renewable, and a near infinite organic resource here on Planet Earth. There are no fossil fuels. Research this: 1892 at the Organic Substances Convention in Geneva, Switzerland. Oil is in fact the 2nd most abundant liquid on the planet. Seems the global corporations have been screwing the little people for over 100 years on this one…
10
Lets get an update on that theory.
00
Typical nonsense from the Guardian. Energy prices have been climbing steeply for years, especially through the green subsidies beloved of all their friends. Their measures are infantile rubbish in the circumstances; a tea spoon to bail out the Titanic. You can’t make it up.
And it is insulting. We have been badgered for years, and many have adopted, such the measures they propose (except the absurd backward and self defeating step of heat pumps), and more, as if the non-existent climate emergency and genuine energy shortage was our fault for profligacy not government mismanagement, private green profiteering and Agenda 21.
My roof is lagged, my windows double glazed, my walls cavity-filled, and since my last child flew the nest my power usage has been falling steadily through natural replacement of goods with newer more energy efficient ones, LEDS where appropriate, careful settings of thermostats and boiler cycles, no wasteful lighting, devices switched off between use, etc, etc. It is not difficult. Yet my power bills continue to skyrocket.
50
They all really ought to be paying more attention to this chart, which shows what’s happened to US wheat futures in the past twenty days.
https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/commodities/zw
Doubled.
I have friends and family who farm in the Dakotas of the US. They cannot find sufficient fertilizer for their spring planting. It’s not just expensive – it’s not available.
It’s made from oil products.
30
[…] Two weeks of War undoes thirty years of energy propaganda: Everyone wants fossil fuels […]
00