Evening Standard Comment: Ministers must act to keep the lights on

 
28 June 2013
WEST END FINAL

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Are the lights going out? The Energy Secretary Michael Fallon says no. But the prospect is a real one.

Energy regulator Ofgem has said the risk of power cuts in the UK has increased and that spare electricity production could fall to two per cent within two years, a dangerously low margin. Meanwhile National Grid has suggested that large consumers could be asked to use less electricity between 4pm and 8pm on weekdays in order to conserve the supply. This is a preposterous situation for an advanced economy even if, as Mr Fallon suggests, there are some plants that are at present out of production.

The problem is the old one of political short-termism, chiefly on the part of the last Labour government but shared by this one. Ministers’ natural inclination is to look as far ahead as the next election and not much beyond. As a result, no new gas-fired power plants are expected until 2016, and the commissioning of new nuclear power plants, for example at Hinkley Point, is still mired in uncertainty — and will in any case take years to produce electricity even if it gets the go-ahead. There is hopeful news on shale gas, but again it will be many years before this makes much difference to our energy situation. It is all very well for Ed Davey, energy minister, to tell this paper that coal’s days are numbered but he is not backing proven alternatives with much conviction. Meanwhile investment in renewable energy such as wind farms remains hesitant, despite yesterday’s announcement on offshore wind — but such technologies, while important, are not in any case going to be able to fill the gap for years.

The Government must act. It needs to commission more electricity plants and give greater urgency to building new nuclear plants. Economic growth is premised on a number of factors, but one of the most important is a stable, reliable and affordable energy supply. The Government, after three years in office, should by now have addressed a problem that was both obvious and crucial to the economy. The lights must stay on.

Obama in Africa

The possibility that President Obama may meet Nelson Mandela on his deathbed has dazzled observers, to the point where it overshadows every other aspect of his trip to Senegal, Tanzania and South Africa. This is Mr Obama’s first lengthy trip to Africa, and for all its huge cost — put at anything up to $100 million, chiefly on security — it has real significance. The US has huge influence in Africa, notwithstanding the greater economic power of China on the continent at present. It intends to increase investment; as Mr Obama pointed out, his trip is in America’s interests, not just that of Africa. There are important security relations between the US and African states: American drones are sited in a number of countries at risk from Islamic extremists.

But of course, the value of the trip is chiefly symbolic. Mr Obama’s father is Kenyan, his wife is the descendant of African slaves. Africans take pride in Mr Obama’s achievement. If he does meet Mr Mandela it will be a crowning moment, but even without it, this visit shores up US influence in an area where it has much still to offer.

London’s pride

London's Gay Pride parade is always upbeat in arguably Europe’s most gay-friendly city, but this year, following the gay marriage Bill, it will have an especially celebratory aspect. We join the LGBT community’s colourful celebration of a real milestone for equality.

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