Gordon Brown Steps Up in the UK

We've only got limited time and money to turn around the increasingly grim trends in global warming.  We can tie up billions hoping that the nuclear power industry will pull our fat out of the fire at the very last moment (considering how long these plants typically take to install and what they cost) or we can get after things more cost-effectively and quickly by putting those same billions into conservation, renewables and co-generation.

There are some promising trends locally after seeing things in the slow lane for decades.  Lincoln Electric System (LES) has put a million into its budget for renewables and conservation.  It has recently approved a net metering plan which encourages wind, solar, micro-CHP[Combined Heat and Power] plants and other customer forms of electrical generation. 

Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) has made a similar move.  Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) is planning on putting in 100-150 MW of new wind installations.

I fully expect to see attempts to sneak some more nuclear into the mix but those efforts seem to be very low on the priority list for the moment, at least overtly.  For example, LES's recent discussion of new power supply included a potential 100 MW share of some yet to be announced new nuke.  The nuclear industry's PR mill seems to keeps grinding away in the op-ed and editorials.

Fortunately, it looks like Gordon Brown gets it.  At least to some degree.  Every little bit counts.

The Planet's Change of a Lifetime - The Independent (UK) - 9 Dec 07

"Nothing in this sorry story has been so shameful as Britain's failure to exploit renewable energy. Its winds, waves and tides make up the richest resource of non-polluting power in Europe, yet we are second to bottom of the continental league table in exploiting it. For decades a recalcitrant, blindly pro-nuclear treacle layer in the old Department of Trade and Industry frustrated all attempts to expand it properly.

Just weeks ago they were at it again - reincarnated in John Hutton's department- lobbying to scrap European targets for renewables on the grounds that they would impede the advance of the atom.

Gordon Brown did well to face them down and insist that Britain retained and met the targets. He has done even better in following through, first with plans to exploit all forms of tidal energy - announced in last month's green speech - and now with setting in motion this expansion of offshore wind.

This is more like the Gordon Brown we thought we were getting this summer, before this autumn's wobbles and weaknesses.

Britain's Wind Power Revolution - The Independent (UK) - 9 Dec 07

"Britain is to embark on a wind power revolution that will produce enough electricity to power every home in the country, ministers will reveal tomorrow.

The Independent on Sunday has learnt that, in an astonishing U-turn, the Secretary of State for Business, John Hutton, will announce that he is opening up the seas around Britain to wind farms in the biggest ever renewable energy initiative. Only weeks ago he was resisting a major expansion of renewable sources, on the grounds that it would interfere with plans to build new nuclear power stations.

Gordon Brown Steps Up in the UK

We've only got limited time and money to turn around the increasingly grim trends in global warming.  We can tie up billions hoping that the nuclear power industry will pull our fat out of the fire at the very last moment (considering how long these plants typically take to install and what they cost) or we can get after things more cost-effectively and quickly by putting those same billions into conservation, renewables and co-generation.

There are some promising trends locally after seeing things in the slow lane for decades.  Lincoln Electric System (LES) has put a million into its budget for renewables and conservation.  It has recently approved a net metering plan which encourages wind, solar, micro-CHP[Combined Heat and Power] plants and other customer forms of electrical generation. 

Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) has made a similar move.  Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) is planning on putting in 100-150 MW of new wind installations.

I fully expect to see attempts to sneak some more nuclear into the mix but those efforts seem to be very low on the priority list for the moment, at least overtly.  For example, LES's recent discussion of new power supply included a potential 100 MW share of some yet to be announced new nuke.  The nuclear industry's PR mill seems to keeps grinding away in the op-ed and editorials.

Fortunately, it looks like Gordon Brown gets it.  At least to some degree.  Every little bit counts.

The Planet's Change of a Lifetime - The Independent (UK) - 9 Dec 07

"Nothing in this sorry story has been so shameful as Britain's failure to exploit renewable energy. Its winds, waves and tides make up the richest resource of non-polluting power in Europe, yet we are second to bottom of the continental league table in exploiting it. For decades a recalcitrant, blindly pro-nuclear treacle layer in the old Department of Trade and Industry frustrated all attempts to expand it properly.

Just weeks ago they were at it again - reincarnated in John Hutton's department- lobbying to scrap European targets for renewables on the grounds that they would impede the advance of the atom.

Gordon Brown did well to face them down and insist that Britain retained and met the targets. He has done even better in following through, first with plans to exploit all forms of tidal energy - announced in last month's green speech - and now with setting in motion this expansion of offshore wind.

This is more like the Gordon Brown we thought we were getting this summer, before this autumn's wobbles and weaknesses.

Britain's Wind Power Revolution - The Independent (UK) - 9 Dec 07

"Britain is to embark on a wind power revolution that will produce enough electricity to power every home in the country, ministers will reveal tomorrow.

The Independent on Sunday has learnt that, in an astonishing U-turn, the Secretary of State for Business, John Hutton, will announce that he is opening up the seas around Britain to wind farms in the biggest ever renewable energy initiative. Only weeks ago he was resisting a major expansion of renewable sources, on the grounds that it would interfere with plans to build new nuclear power stations.