Yes who would have thought it...

There was James May, extolling the virtues of 'Alternative Energy'. I refer to last nights broadcast of 'James May's Big Ideas' a series normally associated with burning large amounts of fossil fuel and consuming other finite resources. But last nights show investigated that allegedy hippy topic called - Alternative Energy.

Not surprisingly though James neglected to mention that 'climate change' thing that bugs so many avid motoring and aviation enthusiasts. It was a bit like watching Al Murray the pub landlord desperately trying to accept something disagreeable that was said to him, but James May just preferred to ignore it completely, to save himself from making a strange 'Al Murray' grimace.

Inevitably James had to start the show insisting that we had to have a lot of energy to feed our habits and there was no option of cutting consumption. The first tentative step made by the presenter was into a solar powered car, which to the delight of James only managed to achieve 10 miles per hour after a very long time!
What he didn't mention was the fact that electric motors are very efficient and with the right alternative energy source can accelerate and outperform an internal combustion engine.

But eventually James managed to find some 'Alternative Energy' sources that did give him a buzz, including some British technology. I think my favourite bit was when he was left standing on the Marine Current Turbine in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, partly because he looked a bit helpless, but also because the project is an important step forward and has had some funding from green and ethical banking sources. James also visited the now famous solar energy tower in Spain, operated by Abengoa Solar , the scheme will eventually provide enough energy to power the nearby city of Seville.

The important thing though was the fact the BBC and James May broadcast this show, which meant there was an admission that carbon emissions were responsible for our predicament. It may have not been mentioned, but it was there.

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