Gordon Brown: Zero to Hero?

Post by **clv101** » 14 Jul 2008, 19:40

This is a pretty amazing speech:

.... to set ourselves on a new energy path - a path from our economies that are today over-dependent on oil towards the post-oil energy economies of the future. And moving towards this sustainable energy economy helps us meet our economic, political and environmental goals.

http://europe.theoildrum.com/node/4300

Pip Tiddlepip · Post by **Pip Tiddlepip** » 14 Jul 2008, 19:49

*suspicious look*

Who is this man, and what have they done with the realGordon Brown?

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 14 Jul 2008, 20:05

Sound bite of the day. Otherwise total bollocks.

If this man was capable of tying his own shoelaces then maybe we would have a chance.

Now if I see real money going into renewables, electric cars etc then MAYBE I'll believe him.

When he signs than first nuke order then maybe I'll be impressed.

We will of course see the emissions side being dealt with: increased taxes on car owners according to carbon emissions, hubcap colour etc.

Post by **clv101** » 14 Jul 2008, 20:17

Vortex wrote:Sound bite of the day. Otherwise total bollocks.

Well, I've had BBC News 24 on for the last hour and there wasn't a mention so little risk of a sound bite!

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 15 Jul 2008, 12:59

Today our globalised, energy-hungry and warming world requires a shift from oil dependence to sustainable energy.

There's that word again. Sun and wind are the only two, GB.

Post by **clv101** » 15 Jul 2008, 13:14

An impressive speech from Gordon Brown from yesterday. Very little coverage in mainstream media though. What do you think?

The post-oil energy economies of the future - by Gordon Brown

eatyourveg · Post by **eatyourveg** » 15 Jul 2008, 13:29

I think it would be very easy to be cynical about this.
Gordon Brown does not have the kind of mind that just 'gets it'.
This must have stressed him right out.

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 15 Jul 2008, 13:41

Chris, your original post was here
http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/forum/vie ... highlight=
but the forum software merged it into my new topic ...

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 15 Jul 2008, 14:07

Geothermal?

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 15 Jul 2008, 14:23

Granted.

Totally_Baffled · Post by **Totally_Baffled** » 15 Jul 2008, 21:52

OMG

Where on earth did this come from????

I just read this speech on the PM web page , actually this most coherent speech I think I have ever read from a politician on UK energy.

Im going for a lie down!

It was almost as if it was written by someone at powerswitch!

Chris have you a new job you have kept quiet??

skeptik · Post by **skeptik** » 15 Jul 2008, 21:57

clv101 wrote:This is a pretty amazing speech:

I got the impression a short while ago that he's had a 'road to Damascus' conversion and finally seen the light re UK's future energy problems.

er... what "British motor industry"? I thought we'd sold it all years ago.

Maybe he's thinking of Caterham

Well... lot's of mouth. Let's see if he's got the trousers to get any of it in play before he gets chucked out at the next general election.

Adam1 · Post by **Adam1** » 15 Jul 2008, 22:37

Like some others, I'll get over my cynicism when I see more actual stuff being built. UK governments do occasionally make great speeches about historic changes that are going to be heralded by massive new capital investment in infrastructure. The reality is always much smaller scale than the speeches that announce it promise.

He didn't mention anything about renewing the grid here in the UK or (especially pertinent given that he was addressing his counterparts from other European and Mediterranean countries) the high-voltage DC super-grid we need to move excess production of northern wind and southern concentrating solar.

Erik · Post by **Erik** » 15 Jul 2008, 22:38

skeptik wrote:Well... lot's of mouth. Let's see if he's got the trousers to get any of it in play before he gets chucked out at the next general election.

My thoughts exactly. Great speech, but just a speech. Still, at least he's saying the right things now. That's a start.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 15 Jul 2008, 22:42

Spent the evening at our beach hut. We can now see 49 wind turbines out at sea. Marvelous.

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