Winter of Discontent

The United States government may be on the verge of defaulting on Thursday, but the United Kingdom may be on the verge of something far worse.  The country is likely to face a severe energy crisis as it heads into what may be its coldest winter in decades.  

Energy produced in Britain from power plants that rely on coal has declined considerably since the European Union began implementing emission regulations designed to get the Old Country to switch to cleaner, alternative energy sources.  The U.K., however, has not adequately invested in such sources and may face a severe shortfall in what electricity its utilities can produce.  So unless the British can get enough electricity from across the Channel, electricity may have to be rationed.  This could mean rolling blackouts this coming winter.  And the early long-range forecasts suggest that the Brits are going to be reminded in no uncertain terms that they're on the same parallel line as Labrador. 

And if Mum's heat goes out, she's only going to have a stiff upper lip because her house is freezing.

Also to consider are the numerous businesses that will have to slow production or reduce hours of operation - or shut down completely if power is rationed and subsequently cut off at certain times.  This will certainly have a negative impact on the British economy.  

Did I happen to mention that it could get cold in the U.K. as early as November? 

This is reminiscent, for those Brits who remember it, of the Three-Day Weeks of the winter of 1973-74, when Prime Minister Edward Heath was forced to restrict businesses to three-day weekly work schedules to save on coal at a time of global oil shortages, along with subsequent coal price hikes caused by an orchestrated slowdown by the miner's union. Energy consumption was severely rationed and the British people were affected by having less power in their homes (in some areas) and less money in their pockets (pretty much in all areas).  Heath's attempts at resolving the standoff with the union failed, and it cost him the prime ministership in short order.  Current Prime Minister David Cameron - like Heath, a Tory - must be pondering this potential crisis with great trepidation.  He has to call an election by 2015, when risks of blackouts in the mother country are - surprise! - expected to be greater still. 

Reduced carbon emissions in Europe are meant to accomplish something the United States has little interest in accomplishing - combating climate change.  Ironically, the melting glaciers caused by global warming may already be disrupting the Gulf Stream, that warm oceanic current that has prevented the British Isles from freezing over for a couple thousand years. That might have something to do with the harsh winter Britons are expected to face.

So, default, while very bad, isn't as bad as this.  Of course, if the global economy melts faster than the glaciers to the detriment of the United Kingdom . . ..