Thursday, June 09, 2011

Green Irony of the Day

UPDATE: Headline in the Telegraph (U.K.):
UK faces job losses as businesses threaten to flee abroad to escape green energy levies



According to the Guardian (U.K.):
Environmental tax threatens green energy research in UK

Carbon reduction commitment (CRC) scheme has 'perverse effect' of threatening zero-carbon energy research

World-class research into future sources of green energy is under threat in Britain from an environmental tax designed to boost energy efficiency and drive down carbon emissions, scientists claim.

Some facilities must find hundreds of thousands of pounds to settle green tax bills, putting jobs and research at risk.

The unexpected impact of the government's carbon reduction commitment (CRC) scheme is so severe that scientists and research funders have lobbied ministers for an exemption to reduce the bills.

Among the worst hit is the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in Oxfordshire, a facility for research into almost limitless carbon-free energy. The lab faces an estimated £400,000 payment next year, raising the spectre of job losses and operational cuts. "Considering our research is aimed at producing zero-carbon energy, it seems ironic and perverse to clobber us with an extra bill," a senior scientist at the lab said. "We have to use electricity to run the machine and there is no way of getting around that."
So, scientists are complaining of high energy prices caused by green taxes. Leave it to liberals to label a foreseeable consequence "perverse"--and then demand an exemption.

(via Global Warming Policy Foundation)

4 comments:

Lame-R said...

Seems like they could work out some kind of compromise, like all their staff will agree to respirate at a reduced rate and thus offset (even if only a little) their carbon units from their electric use?

It just seems so improper to ask for an exemption from saving the earth right here and now, so that you can study how to save the earth later--when by all their predictions the earth will have already passed the tipping point and be spiralling into positive feedback hell...or something like that.

@nooil4pacifists said...

Green zealots think "zero" is the only appropriate ceiling for any supposed environmental threat, so perhaps we should suggest these researchers completely cease respiration.

Warren said...

Green Conundrum of the Day:

Australia is considering awarding carbon credits for killing feral camels as a way to tackle climate change.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.7a5f7af9f08212f6d2aaa2f75c515f65.6c1&show_article=1

OBloodyHell said...

>>> Green zealots think "zero" is the only appropriate ceiling for any supposed environmental threat, so perhaps we should suggest these researchers completely cease respiration.

Though it pains me to find myself in support of ANY "Green" initiative, this one, I believe I could openly support.

It'd be a sacrifice, but... hey, someone's gotta do it.

It's for the trees. Think of the trees.