The spiked podcast ‘Blackouts are coming’ | Kathryn Porter
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Sep 10, 2025 Kathryn Porter, an energy consultant and founder of Watt-Logic, discusses the pitfalls of Britain's reliance on wind power, arguing it has escalated prices and risks major blackouts. She critiques government policies that ignore the benefits of domestic oil and gas production, while highlighting the bureaucratic challenges facing nuclear energy. Porter advocates for a reevaluation of energy strategies, warning of potential energy crises if infrastructure is neglected and emphasizing the need for immediate change in energy policy.
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North Sea Policy Is Bleeding The Treasury
- High taxes and a ban on new licences are accelerating decommissioning of North Sea fields and shrinking Treasury receipts.
- Kathryn Porter warns the UK may soon pay producers cash during decommissioning unless policy changes.
Domestic Production Can Lower Emissions
- Importing more gas while cutting domestic production can increase global emissions rather than reduce them.
- Porter argues domestic production often produces fewer emissions than distant imports and lets the UK control standards.
Subsidies Reveal Wind's Economic Limits
- Wind energy has required subsidies since 1990 and still needs long-term public support to be built economically.
- Porter calls repeated subsidy extensions evidence the technology hasn't become self-sustaining after 35 years.