What can we do to change the minds of decision makers and people in general to actually do something about preparing for the forthcoming economic/energy crises (the ones after this one!)?
Charles Hendry was last night (May 24) named as the minister with responsibility for renewable energy at the Department for Energy and Climate Change, with Greg Barker taking responsibility for small scale renewables.
All very jolly, but does he know his ar$e from his elbow?
The ministerial responsibilities breakdown as follows:
Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
• DECC strategy and budgets
• Energy market reform
• Carbon price
• Annual Energy Statement
• Energy Security
• National Security White Paper
• DECC Delivery Landscape
• Devolved Administrations
Greg Barker MP, Minister of State for Climate Change
Supports the Secretary of State on:
• Climate change
• International climate change
• Climate Science
• Energy efficiency
• The Green Deal
• Public sector energy efficiency including greening DECC
• Carbon reduction commitment
• Climate Change Agreements
• Fuel poverty
• Social tariffs
• Warm Front
• Promoting interests of energy consumers
• Green Economy, green jobs and skills
• Green Investment Bank
• Green ISAs
• Decentralised energy and small scale renewables (inc cooperative/local ownership and business rates)
• Energy innovation, including marine energy (wave and tidal)
• Heat
• Environment Council
• National Carbon Markets & EU ETS
• CERT and CESP
Charles Hendry MP, Minister of State for Energy
Supports the Secretary of State on:
• Security of supply
• Resilience and emergency preparedness
• Renewable energy
• CCS and coal policy
• New nuclear
• Grid policy including smart grids and network of recharging points
• Smart meters
• Gas policy
• Oil and Gas exploration, licensing and revenues
• Offshore environment and decommissioning
• Planning reform and consents
• Levies policy
• Regulation and competition in the energy sector
• Nuclear waste, decommissioning, NDA
• Plutonium
• Nuclear safety and security
• Nuclear non-proliferation
• International energy
• International oil markets
• Energy Council
• Coal Authority
Lord Marland of Odstock, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Supports the Secretary of State on:
• Departmental performance and delivery
• Efficiency
• Lean regulation
• Departmental Carbon Budgets
• Managing liabilities, including coal health and the Concessionary Fuel Scheme
• Departmental business in the Lords
In other words a Tim but Dim. God help the future of renewables!