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Fact or fission?

Secretary of State for Energy Edward Davey this week heralded the announcement of a new nuclear power facility in Somerset stating; “For the first time, a nuclear station in this country will not have been built with money from the British taxpayer”. So far, so good.

The UK Government, one would fairly assume with the involvement of someone titled ‘Secretary of State for Energy’, have also agreed to pay twice the current going rate for the energy this new plant produces. Were this to be in line with projected energy costs, it might make sense.

Were this to come with other benefits like infrastructure development or international partnering, it could be reasonable. But no, this is in fact from every angle a project being subsidised by the UK Government and thus the British taxpayer. There can be only one conclusion; Edward Davey is a puppet with very little between his ears.

Sadly there is much more than an inept spokesperson wrong with this project as it currently stands. Our esteemed leaders tell us that they don’t want state-run utilities, yet they have somehow managed to offer this project to the French and Chinese Governments through the corporatist nature of the companies involved.

Not only that, but by effectively fixing future energy prices they have also managed to add yet another reason for businesses to shun the UK in the future – why be based here with high energy costs?

The main reason put forward for all of this nonsense? The ‘decarbonisation agenda’ that is so loved by the UK and the EU politicians. The same agenda that, when considered on a global-level, is actually pointless and immaterial.

The most effective route to better and cheaper anything – products, commodities or services – is to allow a simple and liberal free market to operate.

Companies of all sizes and origins living or dying by the purchasing decision of millions of consumers would result in far cheaper, far more efficient energy for all. To reduce carbon emissions, a simple carbon tax would suffice. Et voila, problem solved without the need to subsidise EDF.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Cropper, CEO of Climatecars .