At last someone sensible in a position of "power"

Today I read an article on the BBC website that increased my optimism that the UK government may start to take some meaningful steps towards energy management.  It's a report of comments by the new Chief Energy Scientist...none other than Professor David MacKay.  For those that haven't read earlier blogs, he is the guy who wrote the book "Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air" - free copies available for download from www.withouthotair.com - or buy it from Amazon.

It turns out he starts his new job today, working for the DECC - Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Why do I think this is good news?  Well to put it simply he does the sums and cuts through the crap that gets peddled by the ill informed.  If the government actually listen to him and allow him to guide the formation of policy, then it's possible that the changes necessary to get us off our fossil fuel habit may actually get made.

MacKay seems to accept the man-made greenhouse gas emission causing climate change argument - he points out that the sources and sinks are out of balance - although he accepts that it's not a firm conclusion on the available evidence.  I remain more of a sceptic, but I am convinced that consuming all the fossil fuels in such a short time span is a very bad idea - so controlling greenhouse gas emissions as a means to an end is a reasonable idea - even though it may lead to some less than ideal policies.

I hope MacKay can inject some of his enthusiasm and a real sense of urgency into the DECC - and act as a real mover and shaker for doing what is necessary and overcoming what appears to be our nation (and world) wide head in the sand approach to energy generation and consumption.