Russia Gains Gas Foothold In Britain As Relations Deteriorate

Half of Britain’s imports of liquefied natural gas so far this year have come from Russia, illustrating how UK households have started sending more money to Moscow after Vladimir Putin made boosting exports of the super-cooled fuel a priority. —Financial Times, 14 March 2018

When it comes to energy policy, the 177 pages of the German coalition agreement are an act of stupidity. In 2019 and 2020, the expansion of wind power in Germany is set to be massively accelerated even though nobody knows what to do with all this wind power in times of heavy winds.

And when there is little wind, the expansion does not help, as electricity production then remains close to zero. It is like the foolish acts by the people of Schilda (Schildbürger) who tried to carry sacks of light  into the windowless town hall.–Fritz Vahrenholt, Welt am Sonntag, 12 March 2018

The recent severe weather placed a huge strain on Britain’s energy networks. As well as a gas supply threat there were troubling signs that electricity supplies were dangerously exposed. Current policies are set to make the situation worse. Importing power is likely to become more challenging, erratic and expensive – not less. Brexit Britain needs a new energy policy, and fast, which prioritizes security of supply and competitive bills. Muddling through will no longer work. —Tony Lodge, The Daily Telegraph, 13 March 2018

The anti-fossil-fuels campaign is neither realistic nor environmentally sound. Blocking pipelines and other energy infrastructure projects raises costs on American families while forcing them to rely on Vladimir Putin to heat their homes. — Drew Johnson, The Wall Street Journal, 13 March 2018