Urgent steps are needed to wean Britain off oil and onto other energy sources
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
As Middle East conflicts cause oil prices to rise dramatically, government spells out plans for radical energy shift and Ministers will be ordered to adopt urgent measures to wean the country off oil, amid rising concern that the Libya crisis has left the economy exposed to a dramatic rise in fuel prices.
It is certainly not surprising that the Libyan crisis is giving the oil markets the jitters, considering that large oil fields that still have some oil are now out of the production cycle and facilities at the main oil port have been bombed to smithereens.
With fears growing that the cost of gasoline could hit 2 GBP a liter (US$3.80 a liter), which would equal 10 GBP an imperial gallon or around US$15 a US gallon, if instability in the Middle East persists and deepens, every government department has been told to comply with a new national "carbon plan" aimed specifically at "getting off the oil hook".
According to the energy secretary, Chris Huhne, the UK had no option but to speed up efforts to move away from oil. He said that getting off the oil hook is made all the more urgent by the crisis in the Middle East and that we cannot afford to go on relying on such a volatile source of energy when we can have clean, green and secure energy from low-carbon sources. And the carbon plan is about ensuring that the whole of government is engaged in a joined-up effort to lead us into a low-carbon world.
The transport secretary, Philip Hammond, who has infuriated green groups by floating the idea of raising the motorway speed limit from 70mph to 80mph, has been told that he must produce a nationwide strategy to promote installation of infrastructure for electric cars by June.
While the electric car idea is great – nay brilliant even – the problem is that (1) the really affordable electric family car is still a way off, with the exception of the Nissan “Leaf” which I would not call affordable though at nigh on 30,000 GBP.
It is also expected that new deadlines will be set for building low-carbon homes, and that a firm starting date of September 2012 will be established for a new "green investment bank" to become fully operational.
However, despite the initiative, which is welcome, it is rather sad that only some in government appear to understand the need for us all to break free from oil.
Sadly, over at transport, Philip Hammond is still confused and cuts to public transport, and every rising fares, coupled with his recent proposals to raise the speed limit, appear designed to reduce fuel efficiency and increase our dependence on oil.
The sharp rise in oil prices – to a two-and-a-half-year high – has already pushed unleaded fuel above £1.40 a litre in garages in Kent and while the scrapping of the planned 1p-a-litre rise in fuel duty may help people somewhat the fact remains that we must get away from our dependence on oil.
We just cannot continue with business as usual and that goes very much for our energy consumption also, as in electricity and gas. Gas too is one of those non-renewable resources and we cannot afford to remain reliant on that, unless it be home-produced gas in the form of methane.
On the other hand we must get away from the way that the majority used the motorcars for unnecessary short trips of less than a couple of miles which could all be achieved walking, cycling or, where feasible, by means of public transport. The walking and cycling options are, however, the best ones, in my opinion, as they also give us the much needed exercise that some many of us lack.
Instead of buying gym membership get a bike and cycle the short distances to the stores and maybe use local stores again more than the huge, out of town, supermarkets. It would do us all good, the local economy included.
The biggest problem, though, is that the great majority of people, and the great majority of politicians, don't get it as yet.
© 2011
