Can’t say I’m not torn about this.

On one hand, forgoing the pledge of clean by 2030 is obviously bad. The UK already has an issue with energy prices in every aspect (my estate is paying £120k a year just for keeping the communal lights and lifts running, because it’s on commercial rates thanks to the amazing idea of management companies… would cost under £20k on a residential rate plan, which it should be), we’re paying out of our arses just for a basic necessity, all thanks to privatisation and austerity…

On the other hand, the budget announced yesterday is already floating the idea of raising income taxes. Which, let’s be honest, will screw things over even more. Our leccy bills will go down but taxes go up, and I’m not sure which option is worse in short term. it’s just such a hassle to see that any kind of improvement on the long term will make life worse in the short term. All thanks to the Tories selling off the revenue generating assets for short term profits that also somehow slinked off to pad some already well-padded pockets.

Energy prices are set to keep gas-fired power stations profitable because we need those power stations to keep the lights on. Sometimes. As we build out more renewables, the need for gas diminishes, but we still need it.

I agree with the proposition that we ought to be pushing for more renewables, but cutting the electricity prices so that gas-fired power stations close, whilst simultaneously eliminating the incentive to build more solar & wind… just doesn’t seem very smart.