We all need renewable energy so why is the Government still lining Conglomerates pockets?

The Government is wrong to cut the FIT payments (subsidies) to domestic and community Green energy.

Amber Rudd, the energy minister, announced a series of cuts earlier this summer, including a reduction in the guaranteed price paid for electricity generated by new rooftop solar installations by up to 87 per cent. The government has said the existing levels of support are no longer needed as the industry has reached critical mass – and that it must act to protect customers, who ultimately pay for subsidies through green levies paid by suppliers and passed on in energy bills.

If it was a purely subsidies to “green” energy then I could understand it – let them compete on a level playing field with all the other commercial generators, (coal, gas, nuclear etc.) but it’s not.

The new Hinckley point Nuclear PowerStation is getting a vast amount of OUR money in subsidies – remember it’s the Chines that are building it).

The Government is planning to slash generation tariffs for new domestic installations by 83 per cent from the start of next year to 1.63p per kilowatt hour (kWh) — though they will still get an additional 4.85p for every kWh exported to the National Grid.

By cutting this subsidy it will give us all back the vast amount of £6 a YEAR off our energy bills.

The total solar capacity of the UK is now eight gigawatts. However, Government estimates show the proposed cut in the generation tariff could cost the UK six gigawatts of renewable energy in the future. 

EDF's £25 billion Hinckley Point C nuclear station will generate 3.2 gigawatts — i.e. half the energy potentially being lost changing the renewable scheme. 

But look at what vast subsidies the Government is giving EDF to build this Nuclear Plant. Yes, we need it but surely it would be preferable and fairer to give a smaller subsidy to you and me to be more energy efficient and Greener? Not give enormous sums to these vast multinational conglomerates?

The Government has guaranteed energy giant EDF and its partners will receive at least £92.50 for every mega-watt hour of electricity generated by Hinckley Point C — twice the current market price — and that figure will rise with inflation.

Some estimates suggest total subsidies to the project could cost tax-payers £76 billion — that's £2,870 for every household in the UK. 

By comparison commercial solar energy generators get an average £68 per megawatt hour — almost a third less than nuclear. Scaling that down to household proportions the nuclear option receives 9.25p per kWh compared to commercial solar's 6.8p.

If the cuts go ahead, homes with solar would get 4.055p per kW (if they continue to be paid the export tariff for half of the energy they produce).

The Energy Saving Trust has published a review into the cuts for renewable energy. It argues that the residential generation tariff could be set at 5.5p or 6p per kWh — around half the current levels — which, with falling installation costs, would still leave solar looking attractive.

This wouldn't save as much, but it would still knock £3 a year off a household energy bill.

Yes, we need Nuclear or the lights will be dimming,  but surely it would be preferable and fairer to give a smaller subsidy to you and me to be more energy efficient and Greener? Not give enormous sums to these vast multinational conglomerates?

What Pension Crisis?

I've said it before there is NO Pension crisis - its all smoke and mirrors. Engineered by the Government to squeeze us to pay off their incompetence. At last with Pensioner Bonds they are attempting to help out the beleaguered savers. In the end we cannot borrow our way out of the crisis. While the Bankers continue to make loads-of-money we are suffering.

If Gordon Brown had not raped the Pension funds in the last Government there would be plenty in the pot to finance industry and pay the pensioners but he's spent our nest egg.

Do I have to explain again how it works.

Let people have a level playing field for their pension savings. The money saved is used now to finance "things" later you will draw your pension. Don't worry unless they raid it again.

At least this is a good idea - long time coming. Next we need to regulate the charges that are levied and the rates of annuities that are paid should be kept within realistic ranges. Not to make Bankers FAT!

Energy prices up or down?

So now because apparently Wholesale Gas prices have halved this year and the campaign is to get the Energy Companies to cut their prices.

Actually I AM in favour of saving the planet. We need to cut down on energy use, that is the best way until FUSION power is here. It will be decades before we don't need to use Fossil fuels and its those that are contributing to the CO2. Reduce GAS prices we just use more! This is the argument for FRACKING - cheap energy. It just means more CO2 and so more Turbines to offset it!

WASTE OF TIME - cut down!!

Remember that 5% is VAT - good old HMG get more as prices rise!

To me this is unfair on the poorest. Often they are stuck with the highest tariffs so proportionately pay the highest TAX. The rich can shop around and when you're on a big wad Heating bills are insignificant!

Why TAX those on benefits?

I say CUT the VAT on all bills less than £2000 per year and scrap the GREEN levy. Taxing the poor to pay the rich is immoral.

Why all the Windfarms and Solar panels? Its Cos you get DOUBLE your money in subsidies!! HaHa!

Hasn't anyone noticed?

I despair.

Austerity - How low can we go

Government is saving money by cutting - cutting benefits, cutting cash to Local Government, cutting Taxes! Oh yes that makes the Rich Richer!

How low can we go - do you need/want your local council services?

My council is considering cutting cleaners.

Taking all waste bins out of offices and putting them in corridors, staff will have to walk out to the corridor to put their banana skins/tea bags whatever in the bin. They'll need less cleaners, less bins to empty and it will be quicker and easier.

Saving money on cleaners. But aren't they the lowest paid? What about waste at the top? Chief officers etc.

This is a rich country but how low can we go to save money so the rich can get richer. Bankers still get their bonuses and who bailed them out a few years ago?

Are the lights going off?

I've said this before - the country does not have a coherent Energy policy. This helps confirm this.

Robbing the poor to pay the rich (to build windfarms) will not solve the problem.

Energy tax is robbing poor to pay the RICH

Is anyone going to Challenge this Government on why they TAX a basic essential at 5% VAT plus the Green Tax?
Everyone pays these taxes even the unemployed, those on benefits and pensioners plus Bankers and the very rich. IS THAT FAIR?
NO I say.

Wind Farm operators get  double the current wholesale price for electricity - paid for out of Green taxes.

Hooray for New Nuclear Power Station at Hinkley Point - No to Asserby Windfarm

I'm against Windfarms and Nuclear but in this case I think we've got a good deal for the New Hinkley point Power station from EDF and the Chinese.

Forget for now my anti- Nuclear stance for another day. In this case I think the £92.50 per Megawatt hour they will get. Remember this is not until 2023. Quite probably the price of electricity will have doubled by then. the wholesale price is£50 per MWH right now. It has doubled in the last 10 years and this power station is about 10years late due to the last Governments dithering and the Dash-for-gas - which is why we're in a pickle now.

WE NEED THE POWER.

IT WILL ONLY GIVE US 7% (Less than a tenth what we need). What else will they build?

Compared to Wind Energy which is unreliable at least this will give us a reliable decent chunk. 

Don;t forget that £92.50 per MWH 

WINDFARMS already get £100 per MWH and £155 per MWH if they're at sea. This payment is index linked until 2037. No wonder all these wind turbines are going up. Its not to power Britain just to make the Landowners very rich.

Who's complaining about that?

Not to forget that Windfarms get paid for NOT Generating electricity - now what about that!

Who's is complaining that they get over £200 per MWH when NOT generating electricity. these are known as Constraint payments and are perfectly legal under current (daft) rules.

Windfarms get the wholesale price for selling their electricity plus 1 ROC on land, 2 ROCs at sea.

When the Grid doesn't want their electricity, for example when its WINDY and WARM in summer they CHARGE compensation to the GRID but can get £220 per MWH.

Is this not JUST PLAIN STUPID?

Complain to Dave about this. Tell him to cut the ROCS and build proper power stations. Or does he just like to be plain sCameron?

We're not fooled.

WindFarms - Government seeing the Scam?

Yes some chink of light from the Government - even though they themselves can't agree, that Wind Farms are divisive. Some landowners get RICH - yes Generating Money). Now Owen Paterson seems to be on the sensible side. 
see my evidence below.
Quote "But the Conservative Environment Secretary Owen Paterson says some people consider wind farms a complete scam - and the prime minister recently said he didn't expect many more wind farms in the British countryside."

The infrastructure isn't there, its like open cast mining but above ground taking away our countryside forever! Balcombe type protests would appear.

Lets keep up the message to them - Wind Energy is wasting loads of OUR money.