I'm an Energy Minister.Get me out of here.
Posted by Lizabeth on Sunday, 12 November 2006 00:47:05
Would an energy policy by the Conservatives ensure that an Energy Minister stays in the post long enough to understand the real problems?
John Battle was moved to the commonwealth office in1999 and since we have had seven other Energy Ministers in quick succession: Helen Liddell, Peter Hain, Patricia Hewitt, Stephen Timms, Mike O'Brien, Malcolm Wicks and now Alistair Darling. With no apparent continuity each Minister is only as good as his weakest advisor Yet who advises the advisor?
I personally wrote the only true account of the High Moor to High Court battle to correct the misinformation elsewhere. It was decided, by balancing potential benefits and potential disbenefits, something we must not lose. Little was known at that time about wind energy so we visited Hagshaw Hill wind farm where the noise, that day, could be heard from about half a mile away.
The Summary of the long fight to save Barningham High Moor' is really a piece of Social History written in the interest of democracy as are the sequels,‘Force10'and ‘Force10 Companion Guide' All are available for free download on http://www.wind-farm.co.uk/ As a result of The Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 copies of the books had then to be deposited with The British Library, The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, Cambridge University, National Library of Scotland, National Library of Wales and Trinity College Dublin.
Reduction of CO2 emissions and other pollutants now seem lost in the race for regional targets, mainly onshore wind. A real catch 22 as until wind turbines are built, we cannot prove whether they are reducing CO2 emissions as expected.
We need an Energy Minister who will consult with scientists and engineers as well as environmentalists .One who is allowed to stay in the post for a respectable period. One who takes notice of reports by the Auditor General and the Committee of Public Accounts (CPA) and the public .One who will do his best to ensure the lights will not go out.
high court, wind farm, Energy, noise