Penalties not taxes

It is not true that the UK is the only country to have these in place,surprisingly even some US states have them and tighter laws are due in Europe in the next few years.

She talks of other countries which are increasing employment with financial and energy security. Well let’s consider Germany and Austria,the former has already created 109,000 new jobs in green energy technology, there are 150,000 wood pellet boilers already in use in the former country and more per head in Austria.

These two countries, between them produce most of the biomass boilers and related machinery, (under 1Mw size ).

The UK has a total of 2500 biomass boilers installed and virtually no manufacture.We are a long way behind other countries.

If we consider electricity generation,we are only just now investing in a new wind turbine factory, when the market is having to compete with the Chinese,who now already dominate solar panel production.

In the UK we have barriers which prevent the development and building of small water turbine generators,in the past the creative genius of British engineering would have been encouraged,we have mis-guided priorities.

Can we foster the means to research, develop and build carbon capture systems for new coal-fired power stations instead of continuing to “dream” about nuclear,which is long-winded and expensive? Clean,economic energy is needed now,not in 30/50 years time.

Ms Law’s thinking is outdated in the 21st Century. Does she honestly believe that nothing has changed since 1900 in terms of the pollution of our air from harmful gases.

The motor vehicle was in it’s infancy and electricity demand was a fraction of what it is today.

It is over the past 150 ears,during which we have massively increased our burning of fossil fuels, that the increase in global warming has occured.

Should we really be deep-drilling for oil in the Arctic and Antarctic? These are desperate measures which will be costly and potentially dangerous to the environment.

Now is the time to switch from oil.

Whatever the arguments are over global warming and Climate Change, there are strong reasons for the adoption of renewables to supplement other energy sources, whilst we sort out our future strategy on clean electrical power. We need to conserve world fossil fuel stocks, become more self-sufficient and stop polluting our environment, which causes health problems for humans and a severe detrimental impact on biodiversity.

Normally, I agree with Carola Godman-Law’s strong views, but not this time. She should be taking note of what is happening in the most successful country in Europe,

Germany, together with its neighbours Austria, Switzerland and Denmark who are leading the way on green technology. I hope we will follow their example and capitalize on this ‘Green Industrial Revolution’.

John Penfold

Aldingbourne