Unicorns and energy security The government held a conference on energy security. Achieving this was alleged to involve heavy expenditure on unicorns – speculative technologies such as carbon capture. Few were impressed. Under pressureThe chief economist of Panmure Liberum described UK energy policy as ‘mad’. A journalist said it was a ‘delusion’. The Mail published a leader entitled ‘Miliband’s Madness’. In the wake of his energy security conference, the term ‘Mad Ed’ trended on social media. As if to confirm the point, the Secretary of State gave the go-ahead to experiments to spray chemicals into the atmosphere to dim the sun and cool the climate. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Mr Miliband is said to be concerned that the Prime Minister will sack him in a summer reshuffle. Hiding the costsRather than dealing with the excessive costs of the electricity system, ministers, officials and greens are busy advancing sticking plaster solutions (see blog section below) – ideas that will hide the costs. This week’s wheezes were making the rich pay more for their electricity, and zonal pricing. Green warriors under fireTwo prominent green warrior found themselves accused of hypocrisy. Ed Miliband and Nigel Topping, the latter a member of the Climate Change Committee, turn out to be keen and frequent flyers. The imminent return of Old King Coal With the UK’s energy supply looking more and more fragile, it was inevitable that commentators would start to ask whether a return to coal power is desirable. First out of the blocks was Aris Roussinos at Unherd.
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