Our generating capacity and National Grid infrastructure are nowhere near ready for a full transition away from fossil fuels, and the political price of forcing lower living standards on voters will be very steep indeed.
A remarkable amount has been achieved. Often against the odds and in the face of adversity. And certainly in circumstances far less benign than those faced by New Labour.
Shifting heating and transport to electric devices only disguises emissions unless they are powered by a clean grid – and even if not, the extra demand on the system will require vast amounts of new cables and pylons.
We face a situation where getting each project over the line is iteratively harder and no sooner is a project approved by the Secretary of State but a series of judicial reviews land from community groups.
A fairer deal for those who have to tolerate new power lines and pylons is the best way to reach Net Zero and secure Britain’s energy supply.
None of Vince’s presuppositions about the project – that the technology, the economy, and the public are on side – stand up to scrutiny.
I don’t think that we serve our children or planet well giving in to the counsel of despair. Tackling it is more akin to an engineering challenge – one we know we can do.
We are rapidly approaching the point at which these so-called ‘experts’ can no longer plausibly deny the overwhelming evidence that offshore wind is both extremely expensive and not becoming appreciably less so.
It is absurd to set a strictly political timetable for the wholesale transfer of an industrial economy to unproven technologies.
Combined with windfall taxes on both fossil fuel and renewable energy generation, Britain’s business tax regime is getting less, not more, competitive.
We might get the most optimal outcomes from the Independent Net Zero Review by extracting the best of it and focusing our efforts. Let’s prioritise those priorities.
Commentators focus their attention on the Red or Blue walls, but the Conservatives shouldn’t turn their backs on the green bridge of voters in both camps, especially when we have a strong record on climate and the environment.
The UK must reduce its dependence on gas by promoting nuclear energy and renewables, Tory leadership candidate says.
With the global population exploding and relative power of the west declining, we should reduce our dependence on the kindness of strangers.
To their credit, ministers are trying to make some changes that will speed up the process. But there are fundamental changes needed, such as fixing environmental impact assessments.