Memorandum submitted by Mr P C Boggis
(Cit 57)
As I expressed at the inquiry, I am extremely
concerned that the UK may be adopting a punitive Carbon Tax, as
it can put us at a further trading disadvantage in world commerce.
I also have reservations about the fact, that this tax may be
used by government as a further source of revenue.
As an older person (75) neither my partner (78)
or I can afford to get cold, at temperatures below 16 degrees
C, hypothermia starts to set in. We dread the thought of Carbon
tax or rationing of energy in any form. We are already limited
by what we can afford and have lived in highly insulated houses
since 1973 and used low energy lamps throughout the house for
over ten years.
We would like to proceed with wind energy generation,
even though we live in a sparsely populated area we feel the planning
position may be impossible. Our idea would be a unit of about
50kw grid connected giving us a completely negative carbon footprint.
In the past I have tried to get planning for a Wind farm 5x500
kw units in an unpopulated area only to be thwarted by dictatorial
bureaucracy.
Politely, I have concern at the political rush
that is taking place. I do not deny some Global warming and sea
level rise. We had a warm January, 1916 was warmer. The sea level
has been rising at various rates for approx 20,000 years much
of that time at faster rates than today and long before the industrial
revolution. If we go back 140,000 years the sea rose at even much
faster rates, as far as we know the human population at that time
was miniscule as compared with today.
As in coastal matters, I find the money being
spent on consultants immoral. I fear the same goes for global
warming the more so called experts shout the more money government
pumps in, it used to be known as "Crowing to feather ones
nest". They have the ear of Government and appear to be causing
panic and waste in ungodly haste to mislead the public and divert
attention from more urgent matters.
To see people being encouraged to spend over
a thousand pounds on tiny wind generators that produce minute
amounts of energy, it is little more than a con, of course it
is government backed, hence it must be right in the eyes of the
public, you are trusted to evaluate and guide. Yes to discharge
less Carbon into the atmosphere is important internationally.
Every little helps providing it does not waste money that could
be spent on better insulation or shares in truly productive wind
farms or similar efficient none Carbon processing energy generation
equipment. Value for money matters.
To use this panic pressure as a massive diversion
and tax source to nations disadvantage makes mugs of us all.
I wish you and your committee well in all your
endeavours, but please take a breath and be sure the nation is
being guided at all levels not conned.
P C Boggis
February 2007
The following memoranda were received as part
of the Committee's outreach programme from individuals following
an advertising campaign inviting individuals to give oral evidence
on 31 January 2007 at the University of East Anglia, Norwich.
(Please see Ev 266 for the evidence taken on the outreach visit.)
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