LibLink: Andrew George on renewable energy

andrew georgeAndrew George, Lib Dem MP for St Ives, has been writing for The Cornishman on renewable energy in the county.

I consistently pressed for Cornwall to become the ‘Green Peninsula’ – the UK exemplar for environmental policy, renewables and energy security – coining the phrase in an economic strategy paper for Cornwall ‘Rediscovering our distinctiveness’ in 1998.

I’m pleased that Cornwall has made good progress, but there’s still more to do. Cornwall now has thousands more jobs and millions of pounds more in turnover and is exporting its know-how and talents worldwide, in geothermal, offshore renewables infrastructure, etc.

He remains sceptical about large scale solar farms whilst welcoming the solar panels on domestic and industrial roofs. He concludes:

Onshore wind is undeniably the most economically efficient renewable source and, carefully sited, in the few remaining locations where it may still be acceptable, can continue to make a growing contribution.

Cornwall must concentrate on geothermal, offshore renewables including the Wave Hub and other technologies.

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7 Comments

  • Your Dreaming that Green Energy can supply any significant power the Nation needs Its expensive its inefficient and well just wont work. Learn how to burn coal carbon capture etc better to plough the money into that not wind farms.

  • stuart moran 30th Jan '15 - 5:02pm

    Let us hope this is one MP who survives the carnage of May

  • Stephen Hesketh 30th Jan '15 - 5:43pm

    As a regular visitor to Cornwall, I am always struck by the number of wind and solar farms in the county – but crucially that 1) they do not detract from the beuatiful scenery and 2) that the Cornish a generally happy to accept them 🙂

    Similarly, as a regular visitor to this site, I am always struck by the hot air emitted by Tez. If only it could be harnessed for the common good 🙁

    Andrew, I am in full agreement with you and your comments regarding Cornwall’s granite-related geothermal potential. Like Stuart, I wish you success in May.

  • Stephen Hesketh 30th Jan '15 - 5:58pm

    Andrew, I also welcome your comments regarding the offshore renewables including the Wave Hub and other technologies.

    Those of us bordering the Irish Sea sadly do not have such wave power available to us! The entire country does however have millions of acres of roofing available be it domestic or commercial.

    Your vision of a Sustainable Green Liberal environment would assist in demonstrating that we too are indeed a green party, provide sustainable energy and create thousands of jobs.

    Keep up the good work … and perhaps have a word in Nick Clegg’s and Ed Davey’s ears!!!

  • What stuart moran and Stephen Hesketh have said!

    Especially —
    “.,Your vision of a Sustainable Green Liberal environment would assist in demonstrating that we too are indeed a green party, provide sustainable energy and create thousands of jobs.

    Keep up the good work … and perhaps have a word in Nick Clegg’s and Ed Davey’s ears!!!”

  • Andrew is under serious threat – Green decapitation in progress.

  • Seems a bit strange Matthew Oakeshott has omitted Andrew from his support / donation list!

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