Boris Johnson was due to address guests at the eve of the British Wind Energy Association’s 30th conference last week but backed out because of an ‘urgent and unforeseen appointment’.
Despite the no show and the general gloom of London last week, the mood at the Excel Centre where the conference was held was nothing short of glowing positivity. I have not been at either a social or business gathering recently where the impending recession was given such little attention and the outlook for the future so optimistic.
Gordon Brown made a keynote speech at the beginning of the conference claiming support for a huge expansion of wind energy. Gordon Edge of the BWEA went on to claim that the industry could supply 33 gigawatts – almost half of all electricity currently produced by 2020 if planning delays can be overcome.
Last year Boris dismissed Ken’s £25 charge on gas guzzlers as ineffectual, stating that “The total reduction would be roughly the equivalent size herd of cows, per year.” Clearly Boris is missing the point – policy making actions may start out with small results but there is usually a bigger overarching objective and every small move towards that goal helps.
I hope that Boris’s urgent appointment was more important than talking to people about our energy future. I also hope that he takes a different approach to renewable energy delivery in London than his “herd of cows” comparison approach to gas guzzler emissions and his slaying of the bendy bus.
Above picture reference http://www.guardian.co.uk
