Why Alternative Energy?
July 17, 2006 by James
Filed under alternative energy
A poll carried carried out for the BBC World Service of nearly 20,000 people from across 19 countries found wide support for alternative energy strategies. The poll illustrates a perceived triple threat from the way the world produces and uses energy. Majorities across all 19 countries indicate that citizens fear: the climate and environment are being harmed that the global economy will be destabilised that competition for energy will lead to greater conflict Some eight out of 10 of those questioned were worried about the threat to the environment. In Australia, Great Britain, Canada and Italy the level of concern topped 90%. Doug Miller, president of the poll firm GlobeScan, said: “What’s fascinating is that in the midst of historically high energy prices and geopolitical tensions, the number one energy concern in every industrialised country we surveyed is the environmental and climate impacts.” Creating tax incentives to encourage the use of alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power found favour with 80% of respondents. But there was lukewarm support for more nuclear energy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. On average, 49% were in favour of building more nuclear plants. Majorities of 60% or more in 18 of the 19 countries polled said they feared energy shortages and prices would destabilise the world economy. The least concerned was Russia, a major oil and gas producer, which benefits from higher prices. Both US and EU leaders have warned Russia not to use energy as a tool of foreign policy. Earlier this year, the nation’s monopoly, Gazprom, cut off gas supplies to Europe during a price dispute with Ukraine. Some 73% of those questioned were worried that energy shortages would lead to greater conflict among nations. In total, 19,579 citizens were interviewed in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Ukraine and the US. Polling was conducted for the BBC World Service by polling firm GlobeScan and its research partners. Full Article on BBC News
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Why Alternative Energy?
$4b Investment in Wind Power by BP Alternative Energy
BP is making its first major investment in wind power with a joint venture that will lead to a major expansion of its generating capacity. The oil company announced it had entered a five-year supply and development agreement involving five wind power projects in the US with Clipper Windpower. The news sent Clipper shares up 80p, or 28 per cent, to 362.5p in London. The projects, with an anticipated total generating capacity of 2,015 megawatts, are situated in New York, Texas and South Dakota. BP has also secured a mix of firm and contingent orders of up to 2,250 megawatts of additional Clipper wind turbines in its global wind energy portfolio, the companies said. BP launched BP Alternative Energy to focus on solar, hydrogen and wind power but its wind operation has up to now been confined to two projects with a combined output of only 31 megawatts. Steve Westwell, the chief executive of BP Alternative Energy, said: “We believe the Clipper turbine is a breakthrough in reducing the total cost of renewable energy and we are pleased to be the first large customers for this innovative technology.” This is thought to be the biggest single investment in wind power estimated at $4 billion US dollars. The announcement, came in the same week that the British government published its energy review and a telephone poll found that 79% of respondents thought solar power and 76% wind power were the best investments in electricity generation for the UK.
