OT - More on generation (sigh) but what is the alternative to coal?

[David WE Roberts]

Well, I would pay money to see a politician grasp the nettle with his balls on any front whatsoever :-)

[The Natural Philosopher]

Since forever.

Yes you can.

You can just rearrange the spoil.

Well I wouldn't be disagreeing there.

Nah. Fill it with water and make a lake. Graffham water?

Anyway bare earth turns to forest in less than a couple of centuries.

[Jethro]

You think ?

[Tim Watts]

I suspect a lot of protestors (ie the "fashional protestor" as opposed to the ones with deeply held core beliefs) will have a sudden awakening when their lights go out 4 times a week for 3-5 hours throughout the entire winter.

Especially if that happens around 6-10pm every night (most likely time).

Anyone who's left who still thinks nuclear is bad, I would at least be prepared to buy a pint for.

It's the modern greeny nimby d*****ad bastard who doesn't want anything built, but is happy to enjoy the fruits of the same, that I want to nut.

[Tim Streater]

Can't do much more on our house - 1930s with, what, 2" cavity? (it's got the galvanised ties with the twist and splayed ends that my Dad was using on houses he built in the 30s). We've had insulation blown in, but I assume a modern-build would be much better as it would be (a) celotex and (b) thicker anyway.

[Huge]

I consider that unlikely, given he's wrong on both fronts.

[Tim Streater]

Not Daniel Hannan though, OK? He tells it like it is, specially WRT EU "democracy".

[Nightjar]

I would quite happily build all nuclear. However, I rather doubt that we could get away without any renewable energy and, IMO, tidal flow promises to be the best of of a bad lot. At least it is predictable.

Colin Bignell

[Andy Cap]

When I re-read it, I thought I'd got a bit carried away ! :-)

Andy C

[Martin Brown]

I am a bit wary of carbon tax trading as it has become another chip on the roulette wheel at the casino of the merchant w^dbankers.

> Subsidising wind is a way to make people build wind whether it reduces > carbon or not.

Particularly so when you pay them by *installed* capacity rather than actual MW delivered to the grid. Wind can play a part in suitably windy locations, but solar PV is a real waste of time at our high latitude.

I recently saw a village hall with PV panels facing due W and shaded by trees. Will post a picture next time I pass with a camera. I did wonder "who sold you that?" and "how much grant money was wasted on it?"

Within 40 degrees of the equator solar PV and solar in general makes sense. This far north it is a waste of time even if installed properly.

[The Natural Philosopher]

we have done for years and years. Its no different now.

Electricity wise we could go 100% nuclear if we wanted. Its a bit more expensive than using gas to balance, though

and, IMO, tidal flow

Which counts for nothing.

[Jules Richardson]

well, that's assuming that the sequence doesn't go:

blackout -> panic -> rioting -> civil war -> zombie apocalypse.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Can we fast foward to the bit after that.

Uk.d-i-y survivalists form new global society based on science, common sense , car body filler, and angle grinders powered by nuclear energy?

[Another Dave]

I can't believe I'm saying this but the only manifesto I'd vote for is UKIP's. Not a chance in hell of their getting in though.

"Increase nuclear power generation to provide up to 50% of our electricity needs. Because Britain?s domestic energy plants are ageing and renewable energy sources have been shown to be unreliable, UKIP will pass hybrid Acts of Parliament to accelerate the planning process and allow old reactors to be replaced

· Support the efficient extraction of indigenous coal for use in cleaner, coal-fired electricity generation plants · Oppose wind farms in general and require large new wind power schemes to be funded by the market. Most current schemes have proved uneconomic, often operating at less than a third of capacity - sometimes less than a tenth ­- thereby producing a derisory amount of power · Ensure any large new wind farms are constructed offshore. UKIP regards onshore wind turbines and the accompanying power lines as eyesores in beautiful countryside · Repeal the UK?s Climate Change Act and return to a Department of Energy · Immediately repeal disastrous EU Directives such as the Large Combustion Plant Directive. This Directive threatens to put the lights out by closing a quarter of the UK?s domestic coal and energy plants by 2015 without providing any realistic, working alternatives. UKIP will pull out of EU Carbon Trading Schemes, the proposed EU Carbon Tax and binding targets on renewable and bio fuels"

Another Dave

[Weatherlawyer]

The anticyclone that has brought the recent bitter cold (and the same last winter) is not the wet dream of wind farmers. It's the unacceptable wet fart of vegetarianism.

The same will be true in the summer every time the Azores High brings hot dry weather here.

[Tim Watts]

I have a shed full of iron bars and choppy things - I am fully ready for zombies...

[David WE Roberts]

But you can't play Zombie Apocalypse. There won't be any power for your PS3!

[David WE Roberts]

> "Increase nuclear power generation to provide up to 50% of our electricity

I seem to recall another far right party that made sure the trains ran on time. However I don't think their full manifesto was completely acceptable ;-)

[grimly4]

Simples - bore a hole through the Earth and place dispersal mirrors at this end of it. Or have orbiting gigantic mirrors.

[js.b1]

There is no mains backup to the shit pumpers in Westminster... all we need is a fan, stuck in the doorway.

There is one simple green solution to this... we burn all the greens... saving a fortune in their lifetime carbon output... saving a whole load of their bullshit. They are simply a fundamentalist religion displacing previous religions which has usurped sound scientific methodology.

I still can not get over why no-one has publically complained on C4 news about Grand Designs drivel about "all that concrete acting as a thermal store during the summer then releases it back during the winter". It just sums up the bollocks science. Turn off the heating and see how long it takes to go cold... gee... looks like Darwin might just do it for us!