Howell stresses the vital role of ene
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"ENERGY CONSERVATION makes good business sense." So said Secretary of State for Energy David Howell earlier this week when he spoke to the Freight Transport Association's South-east region.
The energy crisis, he said, is due mainly to political threats rather than economic factors. He pointed out that a quarter of all energy — almost exclusively oil — is used by transport and the quest here is for portable energy resources. • Mr Howell said he did not see electric vehicles as close as many believe: "We have been talking about them for years, but in the Government's assessment they still have a long way to go."
Hydrogen seemed more promising although Mr Howell acknowledged that "masses of electricity" is needed for the electrolysis of the water to extract the hydrogen. Nuclear power could possibly provide this.
The Minister said there were now plenty of pressures on us all, particularly the road transport industry, to use oil more wisely and efficiently. In fact, last year a five per cent restraint in oil consumption was achieved.
This can happen in a variety of ways, not least by the price of energy and fuel — "the price tends to concentrate our minds!" Driver education and better route planning play a part as well.
Mr Howell also acknowledged the value of energysaving devices such as wind deflectors on lorries and said: "Much more could and should be done in this field." Such efforts to conserve fuel are good business sense and show on the bottom line."
Mr Howell concluded his address by noting that it is unlikely that any significant energy savings would be made by a switch from rail to road.