Ian Fells - Revision history

Andy: /* Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals */

2010-01-13T16:50:44Z

Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals

David: /* Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals */

2009-06-11T12:09:08Z

Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals

David: /* Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals */

2009-06-11T12:07:03Z

Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals

David: /* Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals */

2009-06-11T12:06:18Z

Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals

Andy: /* Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals */

2009-06-11T11:31:38Z

Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals

Andy: /* Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals */

2009-06-11T10:01:57Z

Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals

Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt at 14:13, 6 March 2009

2009-03-06T14:13:48Z

Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt at 16:17, 4 March 2009

2009-03-04T16:17:50Z

Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt: /* References */

2009-03-03T16:21:33Z

References

Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt at 16:20, 3 March 2009

2009-03-03T16:20:24Z

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 "Perhaps I can just add that I have always said that we will need as much renewable energy, as well as nuclear energy, as we can lay our hands on if we are ever to reduce CO2 emissions to acceptable levels. After all, I set up and ran the New and Renewable Energy Centre NaREC for three years from 2002 to 2005".<ref>Ian Fells, ''Email to Nuclear Spin'', June 22, 2006</ref>
-Fells has also said that the action against ''The Sunday Times'' is ongoing and that his “lawyers are currently preparing a response to the entirely unsatisfactory reply from ''The Sunday Times'' to our complaint.”<ref>Ian Fells, ''Email to Nuclear Spin'', July 10, 2006</ref> However sources from ''The Sunday Times'' have told Nuclear Spin that no legal action is continuing.
+Fells has also said that the action against ''The Sunday Times'' is ongoing and that his “lawyers are currently preparing a response to the entirely unsatisfactory reply from ''The Sunday Times'' to our complaint.”<ref>Ian Fells, ''Email to Nuclear Spin'', July 10, 2006</ref> However sources from ''The Sunday Times'' told Nuclear Spin in 2006 that no legal action was continuing.
 ==Related Links==

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 ''The Sunday Times'' also reported how the paper had "learnt that Fells also put a green energy company in touch with government officials to seek grants." The paper pointed out that the company, of which Fells was a director, was run by a serial fraudster and convicted criminal.
-The company concerned is called [[Pure Electricity]], although ''The Sunday Times'' reported it as Pure Energy and Power plc. According to ''The Sunday Times'' "The company's chairman is [[Ronald Nathan]], a struck-off solicitor who has been jailed three times for fraud. He met his fellow director [[John Rees]] in prison. Although Nathan is disqualified as a director, he has reinvented himself as Dr Stephen Nathan and changed his birth date to set up the company fraudulently."<ref>Ibid</ref>
+The company concerned is called [[Pure Electricity]], although ''The Sunday Times'' reported it as Pure Energy and Power plc. According to ''The Sunday Times'' "The company's chairman is [[Ronald Nathan]], a struck-off solicitor who has been jailed three times for fraud. He met his fellow director [[John Rees]] in prison. Although Nathan is disqualified as a director, he has reinvented himself as Dr Stephen Nathan and changed his birth date to set up the company fraudulently."<ref>Insight, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1807257,00.html The Conmen and the Green Professor] ''The Sunday Times'', October 02, 2005 </ref>
 Fells volunteered to ''The Sunday Times'' that his role for the Pure companies was to "get involved when they need some technical advice or when they need a minister talking to or somebody like that, which I can do without any difficulty."

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 ''The Sunday Times'' also reported how the paper had "learnt that Fells also put a green energy company in touch with government officials to seek grants." The paper pointed out that the company, of which Fells was a director, was run by a serial fraudster and convicted criminal.
-The company concerned is called Pure Electricity, although ''The Sunday Times'' reported it as Pure Energy and Power plc. According to ''The Sunday Times'' "The company's chairman is Ronald Nathan, a struck-off solicitor who has been jailed three times for fraud. He met his fellow director John Rees in prison. Although Nathan is disqualified as a director, he has reinvented himself as Dr Stephen Nathan and changed his birth date to set up the company fraudulently."<ref>Ibid</ref>
+The company concerned is called [[Pure Electricity]], although ''The Sunday Times'' reported it as Pure Energy and Power plc. According to ''The Sunday Times'' "The company's chairman is [[Ronald Nathan]], a struck-off solicitor who has been jailed three times for fraud. He met his fellow director [[John Rees]] in prison. Although Nathan is disqualified as a director, he has reinvented himself as Dr Stephen Nathan and changed his birth date to set up the company fraudulently."<ref>Ibid</ref>
 Fells volunteered to ''The Sunday Times'' that his role for the Pure companies was to "get involved when they need some technical advice or when they need a minister talking to or somebody like that, which I can do without any difficulty."

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 ===Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals===
-''The Sunday Times'' also reported how the paper had "learnt that Fells also put a green energy company in touch with government officials to seek grants." The paper ponted out that the company, of which Fells was a director, was run by a serial fraudster and convicted criminal.
+''The Sunday Times'' also reported how the paper had "learnt that Fells also put a green energy company in touch with government officials to seek grants." The paper pointed out that the company, of which Fells was a director, was run by a serial fraudster and convicted criminal.
 The company concerned is called Pure Electricity, although ''The Sunday Times'' reported it as Pure Energy and Power plc. According to ''The Sunday Times'' "The company's chairman is Ronald Nathan, a struck-off solicitor who has been jailed three times for fraud. He met his fellow director John Rees in prison. Although Nathan is disqualified as a director, he has reinvented himself as Dr Stephen Nathan and changed his birth date to set up the company fraudulently."<ref>Ibid</ref>

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 ===Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals===
-''The Sunday Times'' also reported how the paper had "learnt that Fells also put a green energy company in touch with government officials to seek grants. It is run by a serial fraudster and a fellow convicted criminal. Fells is a director of their company".
+''The Sunday Times'' also reported how the paper had "learnt that Fells also put a green energy company in touch with government officials to seek grants." The paper ponted out that the company, of which Fells was a director, was run by a serial fraudster and convicted criminal.
 The company concerned is called Pure Electricity, although ''The Sunday Times'' reported it as Pure Energy and Power plc. According to ''The Sunday Times'' "The company's chairman is Ronald Nathan, a struck-off solicitor who has been jailed three times for fraud. He met his fellow director John Rees in prison. Although Nathan is disqualified as a director, he has reinvented himself as Dr Stephen Nathan and changed his birth date to set up the company fraudulently."<ref>Ibid</ref>

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 He also says he “was a director of Pure Electricity which never got as far as trading and as soon as I discovered that Nathan and Rees were alledged to have criminal convictions for fraud, which is not at all easy to find out, I resigned immediately. I had taken them at their word that they wanted to set up companies to market "green" energy, which I approve of".
-"Perhaps I can just add that I have always said that we will need as much renewable energy, as well as nuclear energy, as we can lay our hands on if we are ever to reduce CO2 emissions to acceptable levels. After all, I set up and ran the New and Renewable Energy Centre NaREC for three years from 2002 to 2005".<ref>Ian Fells, ''Email to Nuclear Spin'', June 22</ref>
+"Perhaps I can just add that I have always said that we will need as much renewable energy, as well as nuclear energy, as we can lay our hands on if we are ever to reduce CO2 emissions to acceptable levels. After all, I set up and ran the New and Renewable Energy Centre NaREC for three years from 2002 to 2005".<ref>Ian Fells, ''Email to Nuclear Spin'', June 22, 2006</ref>
-Fells has also said that the action against ''The Sunday Times'' is ongoing and that his “lawyers are currently preparing a response to the entirely unsatisfactory reply from ''The Sunday Times'' to our complaint.”<ref>Ian Fells, ''Email to Nuclear Spin'', July 10</ref> However sources from ''The Sunday Times'' have told Nuclear Spin that no legal action is continuing.
+Fells has also said that the action against ''The Sunday Times'' is ongoing and that his “lawyers are currently preparing a response to the entirely unsatisfactory reply from ''The Sunday Times'' to our complaint.”<ref>Ian Fells, ''Email to Nuclear Spin'', July 10, 2006</ref> However sources from ''The Sunday Times'' have told Nuclear Spin that no legal action is continuing.
 ==Related Links==

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 '''Ian Fells''' is a paid consultant to the nuclear industry, who has been consistently pro-nuclear. He is the principle consultant to [[Fells Associates]] and also a fellow at [[The Royal Academy of Engineering]]. He was the president of [[The Institute of Energy]] for 1978-79. From 1987 to 1998 he was a science advisor to [[The World Energy Council]]. He is an associate at [[Incoteco]], a company run by [[Hugh Sharman]] who is routinely used by the anti-windfarm organisation [[Country Guardian]]. Since 1975 he has been a Professor of Energy Conversion at the [[University of Newcastle]], which also uses Fells Associates for PR services.
-From 2003 until September 2005 Fells was the chairman of the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) in Blyth. <ref>[http://www.fellsassociates.com/ Fells Associates Website]</ref>.
+From 2003 until September 2005 Fells was the chairman of the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) in Blyth. <ref>[http://www.fellsassociates.com/ Fells Associates Website]</ref>
 ==Views on Nuclear Energy==
-A typical quote from Fells is: "Nuclear energy is one of the safest, cheapest, cleanest and most reliable ways of generating electricity but it has been demonised by the press," he says. "The Government is phasing it out even though its adoption would allow us to meet our carbon dioxide targets. Frankly, politicians don't think that there are votes in nuclear power -but the public isn't as daft as they think. Sixty per cent of us are perfectly happy to have nuclear power stations." <ref>Anjana Ahuja, "The Energy Drainers - As Talk Of A Power Crisis Grows, Anjana Ahuja Is Impressed By A "Green" Home Gadget Running Costs", ''The Times'', July 15, 2004, p14; Not available online</ref>
+A typical quote from Fells is: "Nuclear energy is one of the safest, cheapest, cleanest and most reliable ways of generating electricity but it has been demonised by the press," he says. "The Government is phasing it out even though its adoption would allow us to meet our carbon dioxide targets. Frankly, politicians don't think that there are votes in nuclear power -but the public isn't as daft as they think. Sixty per cent of us are perfectly happy to have nuclear power stations." <ref>Anjana Ahuja, "The Energy Drainers - As Talk Of A Power Crisis Grows, Anjana Ahuja Is Impressed By A "Green" Home Gadget Running Costs", ''The Times'', July 15, 2004, p14; Not available online.</ref>
-Fells was one of the speakers at a conference on wind energy in Scotland in July 2004: "There is no doubt that we need all the carbon dioxide free electricity we can get but predicating this almost entirely on wind when there are other, less  obtrusive technologies seems simplistic, stubborn and perverse" he said. "If we are even to approach the 20% reduction in CO2, which the government is dedicated to, and a 60% reduction by 2050, refusing to include nuclear power in the mechanism seems inexplicable unless some sort of political correctness is responsible for this decision. Things may change however, according to a recent statement by the Prime Minister. What is require [sic] is "CLEAN";, carbon dioxide free, energy and that means as much renewable and nuclear energy as we can muster". <ref>Ian Fells, "Wind Power and Renewable Energy";, Discussion in Edinburgh, July 23, 2004, can be acccessed [http://www.soultherapy.freeserve.co.uk/fa/site/LinkedDocuments/Edinburgh%20wind%20power%20discussion%2016-07-04.pdf here]</ref>
+Fells was one of the speakers at a conference on wind energy in Scotland in July 2004: "There is no doubt that we need all the carbon dioxide free electricity we can get but predicating this almost entirely on wind when there are other, less  obtrusive technologies seems simplistic, stubborn and perverse" he said. "If we are even to approach the 20% reduction in CO2, which the government is dedicated to, and a 60% reduction by 2050, refusing to include nuclear power in the mechanism seems inexplicable unless some sort of political correctness is responsible for this decision. Things may change however, according to a recent statement by the Prime Minister. What is require [sic] is "CLEAN";, carbon dioxide free, energy and that means as much renewable and nuclear energy as we can muster". <ref>Ian Fells, "Wind Power and Renewable Energy", Discussion in Edinburgh, July 23, 2004, can be acccessed [http://www.soultherapy.freeserve.co.uk/fa/site/LinkedDocuments/Edinburgh%20wind%20power%20discussion%2016-07-04.pdf here]</ref>
 ==Nuclear Industry Links==
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 ===A Close Association===
-Whilst he does not appear to be a member of [[SONE]] or [[BNES]], he will go and speak to these groups. He addressed a [[British Nuclear Industry Forum]] meeting in 1996/7  <ref>Tam Dalyell, "Thistle Diary: Hot Tips In A Climate Of Fear";, ''New Scientist'', January 11, 1997; not accessible online</ref>. He spoke at the [[BNIF]] fringe meeting at Labour's party conference in 2001 and finished "by arguing that nuclear energy should be part of Britain's future energy strategy";. <ref>British Nuclear Industry Forum, ''BNIF Fringe Meeting at Labour Party Conference'', October 4, 2001; a cache of the article can be accessed [http://web.archive.org/web/20011201091449/www.bnif.co.uk/cgi-local/news_ssi/db.cgi?db=full&uid=default&listnew=1&view_records=1&inc=yes&sb=1&so=descend&nh=6&mh=1 here]</ref>. Also that year he spoke to the Western Branch of the [[British Nuclear Energy Society]] <ref>British Nuclear Energy Society, [http://www.bnes.com/Society/AnnRep2001.pdf Annual Report 2001]</ref> and wrote in [[The Nuclear Engineer]] - the journal of the [[Institution of Nuclear Engineers]]<ref>[http://www.inuce.org.uk/html/list_2001.html ''The Nuclear Engineer'']</ref>. In 2002 Fells addressed the Special Interest Group on Waste Management & Decommissioning group of [[British Nuclear Energy Society]] in a joint meeting with Imech.<ref>The British Nuclear Energy Society, [http://www.bnes.com/Society/AnnRep2002.pdf Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2002]</ref>
+Whilst he does not appear to be a member of [[SONE]] or [[BNES]], he will go and speak to these groups. He addressed a [[British Nuclear Industry Forum]] meeting in 1996/7.  <ref>Tam Dalyell, "Thistle Diary: Hot Tips In A Climate Of Fear";, ''New Scientist'', January 11, 1997; not accessible online</ref> He spoke at the [[BNIF]] fringe meeting at Labour's party conference in 2001 and finished "by arguing that nuclear energy should be part of Britain's future energy strategy".<ref>British Nuclear Industry Forum, ''BNIF Fringe Meeting at Labour Party Conference'', October 4, 2001; a cache of the article can be accessed [http://web.archive.org/web/20011201091449/www.bnif.co.uk/cgi-local/news_ssi/db.cgi?db=full&uid=default&listnew=1&view_records=1&inc=yes&sb=1&so=descend&nh=6&mh=1 here]</ref> Also that year he spoke to the Western Branch of the [[British Nuclear Energy Society]]<ref>British Nuclear Energy Society, [http://www.bnes.com/Society/AnnRep2001.pdf Annual Report 2001]</ref> and wrote in [[The Nuclear Engineer]] - the journal of the [[Institution of Nuclear Engineers]].<ref>[http://www.inuce.org.uk/html/list_2001.html ''The Nuclear Engineer'']</ref> In 2002, Fells addressed the Special Interest Group on Waste Management & Decommissioning group of [[British Nuclear Energy Society]] in a joint meeting with Imech.<ref>The British Nuclear Energy Society, [http://www.bnes.com/Society/AnnRep2002.pdf Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2002]</ref>
-In April 2003 he addressed [[SONE]]. This was reported in their newsletter: "Worse still, Professor Ian Fells, at a well-attended meeting of members at Sellafield in April, revealed that the DTI had ignored its own market model in reaching the conclusion that nuclear was uneconomic. That model showed that renewables could, in certain circumstances, be 250% more costly than nuclear." At the same meeting, [[Keith Parker]], a member of SONE's committee, disclosed that the nuclear industry had made a big effort to provide a substantial chapter for the EWP on what needed to be done to preserve the nuclear option but this had been reduced to two paragraphs.<ref>Supporters of Nuclear Energy, [http://www.sone.org.uk/content/view/24/26/ Newsletter], Number 63, October 2003 </ref>
+In April 2003, he addressed [[SONE]]. This was reported in their newsletter: "Worse still, Professor Ian Fells, at a well-attended meeting of members at Sellafield in April, revealed that the DTI had ignored its own market model in reaching the conclusion that nuclear was uneconomic. That model showed that renewables could, in certain circumstances, be 250% more costly than nuclear." At the same meeting, [[Keith Parker]], a member of SONE's committee, disclosed that the nuclear industry had made a big effort to provide a substantial chapter for the EWP on what needed to be done to preserve the nuclear option but this had been reduced to two paragraphs.<ref>Supporters of Nuclear Energy, [http://www.sone.org.uk/content/view/24/26/ Newsletter], Number 63, October 2003 </ref>
 ===Sir Bernard===
-He is obviously a supporter of [[Bernard Ingham]] too, with a professional relationship that dates back to 1988. In February 88, the ''Financial Times'' reported "Bernard Ingham, who has been Margaret Thatcher's Press Secretary almost since she became Prime Minister, is being tempted to leave and take up a new post as an academic. The offer comes from the University of Newcastle which is seeking to establish a new Centre for Government Communications and has already raised about half the £400,000 Pounds or so required to finance the first five years. Ingham is one of three candidates, though clearly the preferred one, to direct it.  He is understood to have shown considerable enthusiasm and to have discussed the matter with the Prime Minister who says that she wants him to stay. The key figures behind the project are Hugh Berrington and Ian Fells, professors of politics and energy studies respectively."<ref>''The Financial Times'', "Faithful Bernard", February 2, 1998, p16; not accessable online</ref>
+He is obviously a supporter of [[Bernard Ingham]] too, with a professional relationship that dates back to 1988. In February '88, the ''Financial Times'' reported "Bernard Ingham, who has been Margaret Thatcher's Press Secretary almost since she became Prime Minister, is being tempted to leave and take up a new post as an academic. The offer comes from the University of Newcastle which is seeking to establish a new Centre for Government Communications and has already raised about half the £400,000 Pounds or so required to finance the first five years. Ingham is one of three candidates, though clearly the preferred one, to direct it.  He is understood to have shown considerable enthusiasm and to have discussed the matter with the Prime Minister who says that she wants him to stay. The key figures behind the project are Hugh Berrington and Ian Fells, professors of politics and energy studies respectively."<ref>"Faithful Bernard", ''The Financial Times'', February 2, 1998, p16; not accessable online</ref>
-It does not seem that the venture came off. However since then he has written letters to the ''Times'' in support of Ingham in 1999: "It seems to me that the way ahead must lie with "clean energy", which is a mix of renewable and nuclear energy. There is a synergy between them which is becoming apparent" <ref>Ian Fells, "Letter to the Times", February 10, 1999; not accessable online</ref>. In 2000 he wrote: "The recent announcement of the closure of Bradwell nuclear power station in two years' time (report, Business, December 2) highlights the complaint made by Sir Bernard Ingham in his letter (December 21) and presents a dilemma to the Government";<ref>Ian Fells, "Letter to the Times", January 7, 2000;not accessable online</ref>
+It does not seem that the venture came off. However, since then, he wrote letters to the ''Times'' in support of Ingham in 1999: "It seems to me that the way ahead must lie with "clean energy", which is a mix of renewable and nuclear energy. There is a synergy between them which is becoming apparent." <ref>Ian Fells, "Letter to the Times", February 10, 1999; not accessable online</ref> In 2000, he wrote: "The recent announcement of the closure of Bradwell nuclear power station in two years' time (report, Business, December 2) highlights the complaint made by Sir Bernard Ingham in his letter (December 21) and presents a dilemma to the Government."<ref>Ian Fells, "Letter to the Times", January 7, 2000;not accessable online</ref>
 The support from Ingham is reciprocated: In response to Regen's request to come and speak, Bernard Ingham declined due to prior engagements but wrote:
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 ===The Adam Smith Institute===
-Fells also has links to the political right. He wrote a briefing paper for the [[Adam Smith Institute]], called "A Cloudy Energy Future" in February 2003;<ref>Ian Fells, [http://www.adamsmith.org/policy/publications/pdf-files/fells-energy.pdf ''A Cloudy Energy Future''] February 24, 2003</ref> In March 2004 the ASI held an International Energy Symposium at which Fells spoke <ref>A report of the conference can be acccessed [http://groups.iop.org/EG/03/06/030609b_e_2004Jun.pdf here] on page 4 of the Institute of Physics Newsletter</ref>.
+Fells also has links to the political right. He wrote a briefing paper for the [[Adam Smith Institute]], called "A Cloudy Energy Future" in February 2003.<ref>Ian Fells, [http://www.adamsmith.org/policy/publications/pdf-files/fells-energy.pdf ''A Cloudy Energy Future''] February 24, 2003</ref> In March 2004, the ASI held an International Energy Symposium at which Fells spoke.<ref>A report of the conference can be acccessed [http://groups.iop.org/EG/03/06/030609b_e_2004Jun.pdf here] on page 4 of the Institute of Physics Newsletter</ref>
 === Cash for Access?===
-In October 2005, The Insight team of ''The Sunday Times'' newspaper reported serious allegations concerning Ian Fells in an article called “Green' adviser takes cash for access to ministers.”<ref>Insight, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1807791,00.html 'Green' Adviser Takes cash for Access to Ministers] ''The Sunday Times'', October 02, 2005</ref> The main allegations have been removed from this site after a complaint by Ian Fells and the threat that reproduction of them could bring legal action (see below).
+In October 2005, the Insight team of ''The Sunday Times'' newspaper reported serious allegations concerning Ian Fells in an article called “'Green' adviser takes cash for access to ministers.”<ref>Insight, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1807791,00.html 'Green' Adviser Takes cash for Access to Ministers] ''The Sunday Times'', October 02, 2005</ref> The main allegations have been removed from this site after a complaint by Ian Fells and the threat that reproduction of them could bring legal action (see below).
-In November 2005 Fells wrote to the ''Chemical Engineer'' magazine, saying he was “appalled” by ''The Sunday Times'' allegations. He continued: “I would like to say that I have never been paid to arrange lobbying meetings with ministers and I have never been a paid advisor to government; my advice, when asked for, has always been free, and as objective as I can make it. I have acted as special adviser to several select committees of the House of Lords and House of Commons giving technical advice and received a modest honorarium. These are, of course, not government committees. When operating in the sensitive area of renewable energy and nuclear power, where large amounts of money are involved, I am resigned to the fact that from time to time one may be subject to attack, criticism or comment.”
+In November 2005, Fells wrote to the ''Chemical Engineer'' magazine, saying he was “appalled” by ''The Sunday Times'' allegations. He continued: “I would like to say that I have never been paid to arrange lobbying meetings with ministers and I have never been a paid advisor to government; my advice, when asked for, has always been free, and as objective as I can make it. I have acted as special adviser to several select committees of the House of Lords and House of Commons giving technical advice and received a modest honorarium. These are, of course, not government committees. When operating in the sensitive area of renewable energy and nuclear power, where large amounts of money are involved, I am resigned to the fact that from time to time one may be subject to attack, criticism or comment.”
 ===Associated with Fraudsters and Convicted Criminals===