UK Facing Blackouts from Obama Energy, Environment Policies
by Christopher C. Horner
Today’s Daily Express (London) opens with a stark reminder that there are consequences to the foolishness being crammed down on you now — and which will be voted upon in the Senate, we are told, at the end of this month.
BRITAIN faces years of blackouts and soaring electricity bills because of the drive toward green power, a leading energy expert warned last night.
A growing obsession with global warming and “renewable” sources threatens the stability of our supply.
Derek Birkett, a former Grid Control Engineer who has a lifetime’s experience in electricity supply throughout Britain, warned that the cost of the crisis could match that of the recent banking collapse.
And he claimed that renewable energy expectations were now nothing more than “dangerous illusions” which would hit consumers hard in the pocket.
Yes. In fact, I just detailed this, with an emphasis on this particular UK canary in the coalmine of Obama’s energy, economic and environmental policies, in a book whose title may now come into a clearer focus: Power Grab: How Obama’s Green Policies Will Steal Your Freedom and Bankrupt America.
Coal, nukes, anything that works is shrugged off on the promise of building massive, mind-bogglingly expensive and wildly insufficient offshore windfarms, instead. Of course we will, dear. Worse, here we have an aggressive war to actually close down existing electricity generating capacity in precisely the same vein Obama is fighting in court to impose what the first judge to hear it called an irrational and economically devastating moratorium on offshore drilling. So, Power Grab opens almost as a more fleshed-out warning of the sort found in today’s coverage:
It’s the year 2015. Just around the corner, really. Barack Obama’s various policies imposed in the name of “energy independence,” “clean energy,” and of course “the environment” are now really being felt. The mere threat of their being imposed has long since scared off investment in needed infrastructure, led to planned projects being shelved, and caused some that were underway to be mothballed. Obama’s policies have locked up land and sealed off domestic resources, and enabled his “green” pressure group allies to do even more. Now, some industries can’t even perform maintenance for fear of triggering EPA investigation.
These consequences were foreseeable. After all, investors had Europe’s experience with these policies to warn them. Those who can have gone elsewhere. There were plenty of countries to choose from. China. India. Just over the border in Mexico, for example. Others, like those workers who lost their jobs or were never hired to begin with, weren’t so fortunate.
One Monday you wake up to discover that nothing works. Each time this happens, you’re a little less surprised. Still, it’s never easy. Though once abundant and accessible with the flip of a switch, electricity supply has failed to keep up with demand and is becoming even more scarce. Electricity, natural gas, and gasoline have all been made less available as a direct, intended result of Obama and his allies’ agenda. Energy is unreliable now. You know this means a cold shower: scarce or even no power means that things you took for granted are now luxuries. Those living a little further out who rely on a well and an electronic pump have got no water at all.
This is mostly an inconvenience, like how you now live in a small apartment, just as the anti-energy zealots want you to, though lack of reliable power does cause problems—such as the elevator failing to run. This is somewhat more than inconvenient for your elderly neighbors.
But the problems don’t stop there. Today, you’ll be walking to work, too. After that last episode with the traffic lights out, well, that’s no way to start your week. Besides, after Obama administration officials pursued their vow to bring our gasoline prices in line with Europe’s—even though our society was designed around certain freedoms and automobility—it simply isn’t something you can afford on a daily basis. The sirens in the distance seem to have begun early today.
This reminds you that your sister was scheduled to have surgery tomorrow. Hospitals, like schools, and senior citizen homes, all feel the pain of these policies. More power interruptions mean her surgery will get bumped, and she will have to reschedule—again. Soon, your doctor worries, storing blood and medicines will suffer as it does in Third World countries, whose different form of political corruption has also kept them with insufficient power.
The impacts of unreliable and otherwise insufficient energy are infinite and, to most Americans today, unimaginable. On this fictitious Monday morning without power, your life considered normal today would be a thing of the past, and nothing that could be recaptured easily. Without power, you can’t use the microwave; cooking in any form is more expensive and, of course, it’s a different task making your family’s breakfast in the early morning dark. Just as the ideologues demanded, you’ve been coerced into a life more like that of so many others who suffer living under the ideal of state-imposed scarcity…
Of course, just as there’s little heat in winter, there’s little air conditioning in summer. The power company is now able to withhold some of the energy you think you need, just as the president’s “Energy and Climate Czar” promised was the administration’s goal. (citation omitted) It apparently didn’t occur to us to ask why a power company would want to do that. Power companies withhold power when they are forced to, either by law or physical shortage. When there’s not enough to go around, thanks to that agenda premised in “spreading the wealth around,” this is what happens.
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36 Comments
Remember reading about technology that would allow rationing energy use from a remote location. California was discussing forcing HVAC systems to have some sort of signal that would allow somebody in Sacremento the ability to cut off energy once someone reached their quota. There is no end to tyranny if we allow it. Energy is too precious to treat cavalierly, such as drilling moratoriums and such.
If this goes through, I predict that every time the lights go out, unemployment will jump up another notch. Employers can't afford to have their employees sit on their hands because they can't run computers, power tools, or anything else that runs on electricity. But, then again, this should make Lady Looney Tunes happy since "unemployment creates jobs".
Energy policy is only the tip of the iceberg…
If your not disturbed about the direction of this administration, buckle up for the biggest hidden agenda ripoff ever to come down the pipe!
This website goes down many rabbit holes and if any admins are paying close attention I beg you to investigate it!
Please look HERE! http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=132061
HERE: http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/why_we_need...
The latest information here: http://epi.3cdn.net/a6c47aa26cbfed9ee0_gqm6i6s5z….
I have been looking into this for a year and a half, it is damn creepy and SEIU is behind it, just follow the money…
Chris, The Brits deserve every uncomfortable event that comes there way with regard to energy use. They more than any other country were pushing the global warming garbage. As that very famous minister said," Chickens coming home to roost".
It's amazing there isn't a worldwide riot against leftists and their disastrous policies. I suppose the Brits can burn petrified dung for heat as they do in parts of Africa. Every leftwing policy is a regressive step backwards.
It’s stupid, therefore Barry must do it, also there is the fear of “man-bear-pig” and he’s “super serial” this time.
Come on November we must stop the nitwit Barry, and his witless minions!
But it's only fair!
The smart grid and smart devices are what the utilities and big tech companies want the tax payer to pay for, fund and provide research for. The smart gird is away for utilities to avoid bearing the cost of building power plants just for peak power loads. The utilities can continue being big centralized inefficient out of date boehemoths at the expense of the tax payer and the tech companies can make a fortune on the subsidies and sales of smart devices and programing.
Wall street can make billions trading carbon and big tech tax payer funded companies, efficiency doesn't make money for wall street or utilities.
Big oil prices still rise and big oils natural gas holdings are worth trillions more.
Politicians get control over all energy and all energy consumers.
Tax cuts for all alternatives and combined heat and power and distributed energy at the local level would cut the legs out from under cap and tax.
Here is the SEIU's contribution to this theft in progress: http://www.seiu.org/2009/03/seiu-coalition-partne...
Much of the info on the web has been scrubbed except for the older policy statements and documents but there must be more out there on this topic.
Why can't people learn to just follow the money?
There is a big group of people around the globe that stand to make (or lose) a whole lot of money on the green energy, Globull warming issue.
They have managed to create a market that previously did not exist because it didn't need to exist.
A sucker born every minute.
What would a Grid Control Engineer know that a Green Czar doesn't know?
You seriously want to put the future of US energy in the hands of a guy like Derek Birkett instead of the infinitely wiser Van Jones? You don't see the wisdom of being huddled around candles? Wool blankets?
Van Jones & The Progressive Liars NEED TAXPAYERS. And the only way to embark on a new baby boom is to force people to have sex. Of course since aborting babies of the poor is also part of the grand plan (obviously) then the strategy to get smarter Americans to give them new taxpayers is to steal their power.
Without power Mr. Birkett we can't use our computers, our phones, our vehicles, our lights or our heaters. So when left with just wool blankets and candles what other activity would you expect from us?
Energy is to the American economy what blood is to the human body.. Why do Liberals hate prosperity ??????
We ran this country for over 200 years with 1000% less paperwork then Obama is pushing on Mom & Pops
November won't stop him. Repubs can't enact ANY Legislation without his royal signature without 2/3 majority, even then there will be RINOs. He MUST BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE and if he is NOT American, be ARRESTED & Tried . We don't know because the Press(?) does not WANT TO KNOW !
Stan, liberals wont be happy until we're all walking to work in loincloths and eating tree bark for food [naturally shed bark of course, it's organic dontcha know].
But don't forget – there are plenty of Dem's out there that WILL support Repeals BECAUSE they will be afraid that they will lose their jobs next (which they will). Not to mention that there is also plenty of Dem's that don't like what BoBo is doing either – but they can't go against Piehole-losi without being put on garbage detail.
remember when old people say the good old days, well it looks like we will be heading for the good old days. but the romantics don't remember what was bad about the good old days. life without reliable heat, life without relaible food supply, life without reliable medical care, life without reliable transportation. why would we give up all this modern technology, so unicorns don't go extinct? this is lunacy, they said reagan had alzheimers during his administration to write him off, i don't remember him doing anything nearly as stupid as this guy. i do remember him standing up to unions, remember the air traffic controllers?
Any country that believes they can produce enough sustainable primary power from wind/solar are clearly delusional. Those methods simply cannot fulfill demand. Modern industrialized megawatt power must be generated by large turbines. For present and future growth, the United States should now be constructing at least 10/15 new large power houses per year, for the next fifteen years, if for nothing else, to just replace our outdated and aging nuclear power plants. Plus all older facilities should be updating and retrofitting.
JMHO…One serious solution would be to make all environmentalists walk, not drive or fly, and cut ALL power, gas, water and communications to to where they live. In short, let enviro-wackos lead by example. Meanwhile, I want the choice for myself and family to live in a modern society.
This is NOT stupid. This is crafty. Do you think for a moment the energy czar will deem government offices to be anything BUT essential? While the SEIU nestles down in its cozy air-conditioned offices funded fully by the minority of Americans who still perform PRODUCTIVE work, grandma and grandpa will quietly pass from heat exhaustion allowing BHO and his 'boys' to declare that their fully-funded healthcare plan doesn't ration (it doesn't need to because the weakest are culled by 'natural causes'). No deth panels in the DHHS or CMMS….the energy department and its czar will take care of business.
The evil is almost unimaginable.
Where is John Galt?
Great points there, and as for the environmentalists that should lead by example, we should cut everything off from Al Gore and see how he likes it.
Robert Gibbs Is Asked About Obama's Connecticut Social Security Number http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8Aahw3NT6E
Obama's Social Security Number(s) – Jerome Corsi on the Jeff Kuhner Show – 5/18/10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRt64dO0opE&pl...
Nice piece Mr Horner. For months I have been predicting a similar scenario in the food production and
distribution industries. WAKE UP PEOPLE ! We will be able to avoid some of this 'pain' if we attack this
problem immediately, as in yesterday.
Oh I know brother! We need to remember this as we turn things around, which I think we will, use Alinsky, and begin to isolate these idiots, point, laugh, and humiliate!
there is only one fault with his thinking. once he destroys the engine that was the american economy, where will his lifestyle come from. once there is no money, there is no money. i am sure americans can build it back again, but how much will be destroyed first. if we wind up being taken over in our weakened state, how many of us will escape for greener pastures?
I hope you're right. But for Dems to go along the Pelosi MUST BE REMOVED as they really FEAR Her .!
Why do you have to keep talking "COMMON SENSE"? Didn't the Dems outlaw it ?
Sorebird,
Right you are. We are experiencing a whirlwind of MISSION CREEP. Especially as we move into elections when everyone running will be saying anything, lying, doing anything to get our votes. They will divert and distract debate, throw out one straw man issue after another to wind up up so we get distracted from our only IMPORTANT goal.
IT'S STILL THE ECONOMY, STUPIDS!
The voters need to get back ON POINT. TAXES AND SPENDING. Without controlling these, nothing else matters. If we elect folks who will control these…we will have the income and employment that will allow even MORE FOLKS to jump into these other issues.
Jumper cables. Hord'em cause we're gonna need lots.
))))
Nobody ever said this wasn't gonna be semi-tough! But what choice do we have?We CAN do this. We can and we will, whatever it takes for as long as it takes.
Git tough er die.
It kills me how they blame "global warming" on excess CO2 when the plants of this world thrive on this gas and give us O2 in return. Instead of striving to populate the planet with trees and other O2 producing fauna they prefer to tax everyone for the amount of CO2 they emit. It's not quite an air tax but a close enough considering each is resultant from the use of the other. Meanwhile they have gone to great lengths to promote hysteria over rising temperatures under the premise that it has less to do with climate change and more to do with a perceived industrial strength human infestation of the planet.
That doesn't go in to effect until 2014. But they will start taxing us for it next year.
jumper cables don't help when the little needle says "e", e does not mean enough, why do you think obama does not want us to drill for oil? all part of his plan.
Operative word there bein "HIS" plan. Plans are fixin to change whether he likes it or not. Meanwhile we got better things to do than snap at every baited hook Dems cast in the water. I'm seein mission creep all over the place.
It's STILL the economy. Don't fix that and nothin else will matter. Fix it and we move to the next "plan reversal" on our list.
BTW…..folks here need to listen to Cowboy Logic and Kermit. We have enough untapped fossil fuel on land and in shallow water to carry this entire nation for 100 years during which time green energy as a goal is absolutely worthy and should be adopted….but right now all the green energy technology we can build and install won't run one major city for a day. Everything we can do, we should do. But to adopt gov't programs with no possibility of achievement….might as well pass a bill to reforest the Sahara.
Last year Energy secretary Chu said to paint roof tops white. This year no comments on that.
The commie dictators want to take body mass measurements. With a smart grid, they can tweak your a/c and let you sweat off a little of the spare tire.
It seems to me Ayn Rand covered this type of evil in her description of what happened to the 20th Century Motor Company…..
The conservative who stands up and says, "I will put an end to this, once and for all. I will stop the motor of the world" will win the nomination and the election, no question.
Two things are becoming painfully obvious—One is that nobody in their right mind (key words) condones what the current administration is doing—Two—Our President would have no problem running a country like————Tonga—-Because hes obviously too g$#@^mn stupid to run this one. I certainly hope all the "suckers" who bought into Obama's BS are enjoying the fruits of your labor!
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