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BBC, ask the right questions about affordable energy!

Sara Wolcott | Friday 9th October 2009

BBC, my beloved broadcasting community, where is your consistency? Why are you not asking the questions that really matter? That is the question that left a bad taste in my mouth after listening to the recent reports on BBC's Channel 4 this afternoon about energy: the not-so-surprising announcements that energy costs are likely to substantially rise in the next 10-15 years, which will, of course, of have substantial impacts on 'regular' people like you and me - and all of us engaged in trying to develop sustainable businesses. And dear old Ed Milliband, who never seems to be doing or saying quite enough, pushed forward, again, the call for the triple-pronged 'solution' to energy security - which is not really a good solution - of renewables, nuclear power and 'clean coal'.

I'm not going to get into a rant about how clean coal isn't clean and nuclear power has certain negative consequences that make global warming look neat and easy to deal with. My complaint is elsewhere: that the reporter in question tackled Ed Milliband and other guests on the rise in prices - not on the impacts of climate change of continuing even 'clean' coal plants or the security impacts of nuclear power. And this is because , time and time again, the BBC portrays itself as being concerned for climate change. Yet climate change was barely mentioned in the report, and the very real need to massively invest in renewable energy - much more than the UK is currently doing - to ensure any kind of energy security and try not to drown millions of people in southeast asia.

It's not like I want to see my heating bills rise. I would like to be able to afford solar panels on my roof, and generate my own energy - and maybe give some back to the grid. I'd like my neighbor at the top of the hill to be able to install her own wind turbine. I'd like to have water catchments systems to water the garden in case England ever has a drought (hard to believe at the moment). Those things would reduce my energy bills dramatically - and, if the infrastructure were there, it would give me the chance to contribute to my local community. That would be sustainable development in my own back yard. Something even my neighbor's kids could understand - and maybe some of them would even like to learn how to build those solar cells themselves.

But right now I can't do that - I can't afford it, and there aren't enough subsidies or the right kind of investment plans with my local bank that would let me do this. Sustainable energy development that reduces, not increases, energy bills is possible - but it will take some major shifts in infrastructure, legislation, institutional habit, and mindsets that we haven't begun dealing with. And the BBC is one of the most important groups who have the power to make that happen. So don't just ask about how wind turbine farms require 5 times as much energy to make them equal coal - so why aren't we building new coal plants. Ask about why aren't we building 5 times as many wind farms in addition to local, individually owned and affordable energy solutions. If the BBC assumes that coal is a solution, so will much of the British public. And coal is not sustainable development.
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Sara Wolcott | Posted: 13 October 2009

Great points - yes, there are so many policy options that are possible and could make such a difference. and transforming the auto industry to wind turbines would be awesome, i'd love to see abandoned industry cranked up for a renewable future.

Mike OGrady | Posted: 11 October 2009

A solid National Energy Policy which highlights the CBO costs for Developing, Securing, Transporting and Refining Petroleum and Coal. A directive from the US Government and part owner of the Auto Indusstry to drive the development of Ethanol and CNG vehicles. A Mass transportation initiative that leverages electric power derived from *any* sources including solar, wind, domestic petroleum,natural gas and nuclear, Consumer Subsidies for panel purchases and installations and Education would be key factors.

It wouldn't hurt to have the US Governement fund the construction of ultra-high capacity poly-silicon plants to mass produce solar ingots for constructing wafers and buy up Rust Belt manufacturing plants that used to produce "generator" components like ones that used to manufacture Automotive Generators so they can be used in micro Turbines.

Kevin Long | Posted: 11 October 2009

Is it realistic to think that subsidies would help the average person afford solar panels their roof and top of the hill homes install wind turbines? Would that make a noticeable difference or does it have to be big sweeping industry changes?