Apparently, it is time to 'pull our national finger out' and start building nuclear power stations. Who will build them? EDF or China? We haven't got the money.
If engineers had been allowed to harness Britain's wealth of natural power sources 30 years ago, we would be feeling a little guilty about not having to turn off our lights as the rest of Europe freezes in darkness this winter.
A friend of mine runs the Bath Aqua Glass studio here. Glass-blowers have to keep the furnaces running 24/7, 365 days a year. Her bill will rise from £12,000 a year to £131,000. Businesses are not protected by OFGEN caps, but then neither are we. They just delay the rise a little.
I am hoping it will not be too late to do something by the time this government finally gets back to work, because if they don't the situation will snowball. This is how world wars start.
One of the perks of living in a rural area means we can have a fire. They closed the pits in Britain with 200 years of coal still underground.
ReplyDeleteI like open fires. I miss them.
DeleteWe did have the money from the North Sea boom, but we gave it all away. I believe Norway, in contrast, set up a sovereign wealth fund.
ReplyDeleteThat boom is still producing a lot of gas. Norway had the right idea. You would think that now we have left Europe we would not have to pay European prices for our own gas.
DeleteGermany - the greenest of European nations - made the utterly stupid mistake of allowing the re-routing of Russian gas supplies to bypass Ukraine. A strategic blunder.
DeleteAnd I can't help thinking we're building nuclear and natural energy resources and still having to pay market rates for what they generate.
DeleteWe have nuclear power stations here, wind turbines, incredible natural resources in terms of natural gas and oil, and our heating costs are still going to go through the roof. Thanks, Trudeau. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteEveryone wants to be global in the good times.
DeleteYour friend will presumably have to close shop, as so many restaurants and pubs will have to. Who sold us out, which party? I see Extinction Rebellion have just superglued themselves to the Speaker's chair. Not sure it will help but needs must...
ReplyDeleteWe were not sold out by any one party. They are all responsible, but Thatcher set the course for privatisation. My friend is going to buy a tiny little furnace to keep the tourists happy with have-a-go sessions on blowing glass baubles. Everyone hopes they can survive.
DeleteIt really stings when you have to buy back oil and gas from those extracting it. Other than the cash infusion on the sale, it makes you wonder what made the original sell off attractive. There are 88 nuclear power plants in the US and more are planned. Wind turbines are also generating power to a lesser degree.
ReplyDeleteThe oil industry became too powerful to fight. They are not known for their compassion.
DeleteI am investing in several good quality blankets with attractive designs. I intend to sit all winter draped about in blankets.
ReplyDeleteI have a thick overcoat which I have been using as a dressing gown for years. Nothing much will change here.
DeleteWeaver's solution will work for homes (and homeless a bit). Shopkeepers can issue blankets at the door and collect as the customer leaves. Factory workers will be advised to bring blankets to work under. If there are no pay raises, perhaps the factory owner can hang on another year...
ReplyDeleteI don't think that heating will be the biggest part of the problem.
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ReplyDeleteI deleted my comment as it was very negative about how I am feeling about all this worry.
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