Mr Procter Goes To Drax

By Paul Homewood

One of our readers received this circular from his local Tory MEP.

It included news of his visit to Drax:

Highly amused at Mr Procter’s rather naive acceptance of what the spin merchants at Drax had told him, he fired off this letter to the MEP:

Dear Mr Procter,
I have read your newsletter in my capacity as a Sheffield Hallam Conservative member and you say you have learned abut “Drax’s pioneering use of sustainable wood pellets to produce low-carbon energy for businessses and industries”
I hope they explained the full picture. They receive £800m/year in subsidies. The cost of green subsidies is £317 per household in 2014; £584 in 2020; £815 in 2030 and England has one of the highest energy costs in the World. High energy costs causes loss of jobs
The pellets are supplied from forests in the US and transported 3500 miles to the UK. The net result is that this process puts out more CO2 than coal fired plants. Professor Schlesinger and 100 environmental other scientists in the US have said “this does not reduce CO2 emissions and arguably makes matters worse” He lives in North Carolina where the deforestation is taking place.
Out of the top 60 CO2 emissions countries in the world the UK is 54th out of the top 60. We are small fry. China produces 27% and by 2030 will double their emissions. India is 3rd largest and will triple its emissions by 2030. Germany has banned nuclear and expanded its coal fired plants to supply its industry as well as becoming increasingly dependent on Russia for its energy needs.
The decision to stop subsidising the Welsh Tidal Lagoon project show some common sense and commercial reality. I expect the Conservative Party to show commercial common sense in all aspects of Government. In this case we have failed. I would conclude with the GMB statement with which I agree.
“Those advocating a renewables only energy policy cannot just shrug their shoulders on cloudy windless days and when it is dark, and pretend, that windmills and solar can keep the lights on. (The biomass contribution is 5% energy needs) ….a balanced energy mix-which includes nuclear and gas as the only reliable shows in town…is a reality”.
I would recommend the “Not a lot of people know that” website to you for the facts on renewables and the impact it is having in the UK.
Best Wishes

And then got this in reply:

Thank you for your email.

I note your view. Whilst I agree with some of the points you make, the government are clear in their direction of travel with renewables. The energy regulation market is going through change and the closing of power stations is of personal concern.

Thank you for your input into this debate.

In other words, I know it’s all nonsense, but it is the government’s policy, so I’ve got to go along with it!

No doubt, Mr Procter would applaud Matt’s “pioneering” technology if the government told him to!