Why We Can’t Frack Ourselves Out of an Energy Crisis*

[johnny]

Sounding more like RGR every day!!!

His analysis is correct...., it's just his solutions that aren't.....

Really? Did you actually read what I wrote up page for solutions? Do you consider it unreasonable to posit that nuclear could certainly be a solution?

[BritDownUnder]

Sadly I sold my BP shares too soon. However to my delight I discovered I still had some Shell shares and they have done well. Better than some of the other dogs I hold.

Regarding nuclear, Australia with one third of proven world Uranium reserves stands ready to supply friendly Western countries with nuclear fuel, in return for a few nuclear powered submarines and nuclear warheads perhaps.

The plain facts are that humans themselves can generate (convert if you will) about 1kWh of energy whereas modern Western societies require about 100 - 200kWh per capita per day of energy.

To maintain modern lifestyles, this energy has to come from somewhere and due to UK government incompetence and malign, mostly, influence from various outside parties (EU, Russia, USA, Muslim oil producers) the UK has to get that energy from overseas.

[Mark]

To maintain modern lifestyles, this energy has to come from somewhere and due to UK government incompetence and malign, mostly, influence from various outside parties (EU, Russia, USA, Muslim oil producers) the UK has to get that energy from overseas.

Plans unveiled to decarbonise UK power system by 2035:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plan ... em-by-2035

I know this comes from HMG, and when do they ever get anything right.....
However, I'm reasonably hopeful that the UK can do this.....

& johnny, yes the plan does include nuclear....
If only they could sort out that problem with waste - they've only been trying to resolve it for 70yrs....

[kenneal - lagger]

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To maintain modern lifestyles, this energy has to come from somewhere and due to UK government incompetence and malign, mostly, influence from various outside parties (EU, Russia, USA, Muslim oil producers) the UK has to get that energy from overseas.

Most of the malign influence comes from UK fossil fuel energy companies. We have the largest renewable resource in Europe around our coasts in wind and tidal energy but the government hasn't supported it to the extent that it has supported oil and gas. And those fossil fuel companies haven't shown any interest in turning themselves into modern energy suppliers. With the expertise gained in offshore operations in the North Sea they could have greatly helped the roll out of wind and tidal energy extraction in that area but they have preferred to stick with fossil fuels and have lobbied strongly for the continued reliance on fossil fuels. The excess profits which they have made recently should be taxed off them and invested in renewable energy production rather than the share buy backs which have predominated recently.

A windfall tax could also go towards a reduction in fuel use by funding a National Insulation Scheme. Using less to reduce our vulnerability to energy shortages must be the primary lesson to be gained from the current emergency but it seems that it doesn't promote the stupidity of economic growth according to government and economists.

[johnny]

....................
To maintain modern lifestyles, this energy has to come from somewhere and due to UK government incompetence and malign, mostly, influence from various outside parties (EU, Russia, USA, Muslim oil producers) the UK has to get that energy from overseas.

Most of the malign influence comes from UK fossil fuel energy companies. We have the largest renewable resource in Europe around our coasts in wind and tidal energy but the government hasn't supported it to the extent that it has supported oil and gas.

Fossil fuel companies are a malign influence...and then you say..."but the government"....? So, the representatives of the people allow, permit, encourage some form of corporate behavior you label as "malign" and yet if your representatives didn't want it to be so, they could snap their fingers, pass a law, and stop it in its tracks.

Sounds like it isn't a company problem at all, if they are playing by the rules supplied. Your elected officials create the environment you are unhappy with. Vote in new ones. Be happy when they do your bidding.

[Mark]

Fossil fuel companies are a malign influence...and then you say..."but the government"....? So, the representatives of the people allow, permit, encourage some form of corporate behavior you label as "malign" and yet if your representatives didn't want it to be so, they could snap their fingers, pass a law, and stop it in its tracks.

Sounds like it isn't a company problem at all, if they are playing by the rules supplied. Your elected officials create the environment you are unhappy with. Vote in new ones. Be happy when they do your bidding.

Yes, the Fossil fuel companies are a malign influence.
They also have virtually unlimited resources to lobby, influence, bribe and corrupt the political classes and the public at large....

Revealed: oil sector’s ‘staggering’ $3bn-a-day profits for last 50 years
https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... t-50-years

The general public vote on 101 different issues - health, economy, transport, defence, taxes, environment, personalities etc. etc.
Corrupt Fossil fuel companies come very low in the pecking order...

[johnny]

Yes, the Fossil fuel companies are a malign influence.

Sounds like you need to vote in new folks to fix that.

They also have virtually unlimited resources to lobby, influence, bribe and corrupt the political classes and the public at large....

Well, do those companies have more people working for them to vote for their malevolent intent than the citizens? Or are fossil fuel companies handed a multiplier for their employees so every one of their votes is like 10X regular citizen votes?

Revealed: oil sector’s ‘staggering’ $3bn-a-day profits for last 50 years
https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... t-50-years

Sounds like the citizens doing the voting should demand some higher tax rates for those wankers.

The general public vote on 101 different issues - health, economy, transport, defence, taxes, environment, personalities etc. etc.
Corrupt Fossil fuel companies come very low in the pecking order...

Well then, until it is important, it will remain not a problem worth solving, but just something the citizens live with then. Sounds similar to other representative democracies.

[Mark]

Well then, until it is important, it will remain not a problem worth solving, but just something the citizens live with then. Sounds similar to other representative democracies.

Labour (currently in opposition) are strongly advocating a hefty windfall tax on the fossil fuel companies...
However, we don't have a General Election for approx. 2yrs - polls currently predict a big Labour win, but a lot can happen before then....
Let's see what happens...

[johnny]

Well then, until it is important, it will remain not a problem worth solving, but just something the citizens live with then. Sounds similar to other representative democracies.

Labour (currently in opposition) are strongly advocating a hefty windfall tax on the fossil fuel companies...

Well, good on them then! In the US the dope smokers after a fair amount of time were able to get their favorite drugs legalized, which is pretty hard in the States. So maybe Labour can keep hammering away and finally get something done.

However, we don't have a General Election for approx. 2yrs - polls currently predict a big Labour win, but a lot can happen before then....
Let's see what happens...

The people await...the will of the people!