Fuelling the future
From Mr Tom Foulkes Sir: In his article 'Whistling in the dark' (5 July) Simon Nixon fails to mention one vital point made in the Institution of Civil Engineers' State of the Nation report.
The difference between now and 1974 is that an energy crisis is eminently avoid
able. All the government has to do is to adopt a long-term perspective to their planning to ensure that we retain a diverse and secure mix of energy sources for the future. This should include not only gas and renewables, but also coal and nuclear capability.
To make that feasible the government has to acknowledge the issue and start taking measures to build on the advances in clean coal technology and to conduct feasibility studies into what any future nuclearbuild programme for this country would look like. These should be in parallel to increased investment in the renewable resources to which the recent energy white paper commendably devotes considerable attention.
In the short term, investment in gas-storage facilities will also make it less likely that the lights will go out this side of the general election — something the government should be persuadable on.
What we cannot afford is a 'wait-andsee' period over the next few years. The need for diversity and security of energy supplies will be as true in five, ten or 15 years' time as it is now. The government is not 'powerless to prevent an energy crisis', but it must adopt a longer-term view in its planning. This should be achieved by the appointment of an independent chief engineering adviser, free from the constraints of short-term popularity canvassing, and with the remit to advise upon, plan and implement the nation's infrastructure.
Tom Foulkes
Director-general, Institution of Civil Engineers London SW I
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