European Parliament 'doesn't care' about energy costs

London - On what was labelled Super Tuesday, MEPs on the European Parliament Environment Committee were euphoric after voting through a series of proposals that will require power generators to pay for all emissions from 2013 and potentially ban the building of all new coal-fired power stations from 2015.

Asked about the likely impact of these decisions of 7 Oct on the supply of affordable energy to homes, hospitals and factories in Europe, Chris Davies, the Liberal Democrat MEP who championed the coal-fired power ban, said: "From my perspective I don't care. I am in the business of reducing CO2 emissions."

In contrast to this nonchalant attitude, industry leaders have voiced strong concern about the future of their European operations. The MEPs' plans will also require many process sectors, including chemicals (see news story), to pay for all emissions by 2020.

If left unchecked, it seems that the decisions of a detached elite in the European Parliament will soon become law and threaten the supply of affordable energy to the ordinary people in the region as well as the competitiveness of many process operators.

Please email your views to patrick.raleigh@centaur.co.uk

Replies:

Let me start by saying I’m all for reducing CO2.
I do however find it difficult to accept that Britain and Europe can afford to taker a unilateral approach. If China and other countries of the World don’t make the same commitment how can the UK/Europe afford to stand alone given the obvious global markets we try to compete in? I have never understood the theory of generating electricity from a finite resource such as Gas, which is need in its own right, instead of using coal. I don’t believe it is impossible to clean the coal process up and we do have good resources of coal. Given the changing costs of energy, I think we need to look at coal again, this of course as a secondary to HEP, Tidal, Wind, Solar etc.
Nuclear brings with it too much baggage in terms of terrorism, accidents, waste, and passing today’s problems to future generations.

Robert Loughrey
Engineering Manager
Henton Engineering Ltd

-------------------------------------------

Patrick, as you are aware, manufacturing businesses are struggling to make ends meet. Managers like myself are having to cut costs, force through new working practices whilst complying with an ever growing list of H&S initiatives and red tape. The total arrogance of Chris Davies's comment unfortunately highlights the fact that he has forgotten that he was elected to serve and protect the interests of the people of Britain. How did we ever end up with such naive publicity seeking individuals like this being able to have such a damaging influence on manufacturing in this country!
Regards

Regards
Mike Rigby
PCME Ltd
Clearview Building
Edison Rd
St Ives
Cambs
UK

Trevor Mills (contact details supplied)

-------------------------------------------

Well, I think that you captured the MEP Alice in Wonderland very well.
It seems to me that it goes this way...
1. Banks melt down by borrowing money from another bank that in some way borrowed it from them in the first place.
2. Stock exchange melts down as no one there ever took a real business risk (as in having a good idea and manufacturing it) – someone leaves door open – cold draught – everyone panics.
3. Just to run it in oil production is cut so that energy costs stay high.
4. Then (when we are all trying to keep warm and also make things) some ill informed and ill educated gang of MEPs switch off the primary method of reliable electricity generation.
BUT there is a fix
It is called clean coal
So (government) ...
1. Fund it
2. Cancel funding (check that one out)
3. Switch everything off and leave the country (as the ones with the real smart ideas surely will – again, but now one has to leave Europe I guess.)
OR
1. Send all MEP’s and MP’s and anyone who even thinks that they want to “rule – or represent” on a long awareness session about some basic engineering / science and common sense.
Please keep up the good work on the objective editorials.
David Brearley
Copa Data

-------------------------------------------

I entirely agree with Chris Davies. We are a million miles away from the point at which Companies, and the public will start to really care about emissions, and even further away from the point at which they will start to modify their behaviour. My opinion is that fuel in general, and auto fuel in particular is way too cheap – a factor of 10 increase might at least start some of the people out there thinking they should perhaps make some adjustments to their ludicrously wasteful lifestyles. I would say to people that the requirement for change really does include YOU personally