Elec prices are set by gas 70% of the time. If you build more renewables it happens less and less often (we’d expect <15% come 2031). If you slow down building you prolong the time legacy renewables extract rents. But that also isn’t the case for CfDs which get paid the set price regardless!
Tipping point?
"New electric cars now cost £42,620 on average, compared with £43,405 for petrol models."
plc.autotrader.co.uk/news-views/p...
This is a very good set of essays but I’m so triggered by calling it the affordability crisis. That’s what Mamdami called it, it’s not what a single member of the British public would refer to. A classic of American politics meaning we talk past voters.
fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...
It is I would say a broad definition of benefit... It's a benefit that there isn't a cost?
Bingo! Took me a good long while of staring at numbers this morning to work this out.
AI rose in salience more than any other issue for US voters last year, with backlash from creatives, X-risk activists, parents, workers, environmentalists and more
We expect pressure to build in 2026 as AI gets even more capable, and @ippr.org we argue governments need to urgently spread the upside
Ah a new Man-azine
I hadn't clocked that the NSW vs Vic fuel crisis response would be a great natural experiment to determine the effect of free public transit on usage levels, but it is. So far, the results are very much in line with the previous literature (ie it does sod all to drive modal shift from cars)
The IMF’s latest outlook paints a bleak picture and underlines a hard truth: the UK’s economy is still at the mercy of global crises.
Our dependence on volatile fossil fuels leaves households and businesses exposed to yet another wave of energy price shocks.
The FIFA 2003 soundtrack
Amazing!
So great! Used to go every year when I was a kid and went back a couple years ago. The walk to Saundersfoot is really nice and manageable and if you have time Barfundle beach is so gorgeous.
Wrote this a year ago for @prospectmagazine.co.uk when Blair took another swipe at the Labour government
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/698...
Playing from 0:00
open.spotify.com/episode/1Slz... @samalvis.bsky.social is a great guest - glad to discover this podcast
Thanks Ben, very kind
Why is Tony Blair so afraid of progress and modernity?
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
“I hear people say we have to stop and debate decarbonisation. You might as well debate whether autumn should follow summer”
Wrote this a year ago for @prospectmagazine.co.uk when Blair took another swipe at the Labour government
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/698...
Why is Tony Blair so afraid of progress and modernity?
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
“I hear people say we have to stop and debate decarbonisation. You might as well debate whether autumn should follow summer”
The logical extension of this is mad - not a migrant? No views on migration please. Not on benefits? No views on benefits level I'm afraid.
Over the weekend 5 european ministers called for coordinated action on windfall taxes. With the UK reconnecting with the EU, working together on this and throughout the crisis will have clear benefits - and be the tangible legs behind Labour's comms on profiteering
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
I wouldn't stop at coordinating on taxes
- coordinated purchases of LNG to avoid bidding against each other - particularly as the EU refills its storage over summer
- bulk purchase solar (lower costs, greater power) for rapid deployment now
- Securing clean energy inputs (everyone wants them now!)
New post where I get into some of the critiques of Labour's rhetoric around profits in an energy crisis, and what to do next. electionenergy.substack.com/p/ee21-costs...
Over the weekend 5 european ministers called for coordinated action on windfall taxes. With the UK reconnecting with the EU, working together on this and throughout the crisis will have clear benefits - and be the tangible legs behind Labour's comms on profiteering
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Jim Tankersly writing on behalf of his family - pictured
200% more expensive and a 7 year wait - get your new gas turbines here.
At least 1/3 of uk gas turbines are over 40 years old. If you want to keep gas on the system these are the costs that come with your ‘cheap gas’
www.woodmac.com/press-releas...
Easter weekend reading on the government's response to the energy shock so far
Easter weekend reading on the government's response to the energy shock so far
200% more expensive and a 7 year wait - get your new gas turbines here.
At least 1/3 of uk gas turbines are over 40 years old. If you want to keep gas on the system these are the costs that come with your ‘cheap gas’
www.woodmac.com/press-releas...
Did you read the piece? That’s the whole discussion..
It’s all performative and that’s fine. It also sends a signal to not profiteer