Difference between revisions of "Energy Industries Club"

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'''Energy Industries Club''' is an energy industry body which keeps its membership secret. The body's members are drawn from firms and companies in the field, including suppliers, major customers, oil and gas companies and nationalised industries.<ref>Jonathan Leake, [http://www.newstatesman.com/200505230004 The nuclear charm offensive], New Statesman, 23 May 2005, accessed 11 Jan 2010</ref>
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==Background==
  
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==Pro-nuclear lobbying==
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The '''Energy Industries Club''' (EIC) is an energy industry body. 
  
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On March 15, 2005, the body organized a gathering of UK's top opinion formers: analysts, corporate traders and members of the media where the keynote speech, entitled "UK Nuclear Energy: fuel of the future?", was delivered by [[Mike Alexander]], the Chief Executive of [[British Energy]].<ref>Mike Alexander, CEO, British Energy Group plc, [http://www.britishenergyrenewables.com/documents/msoDB.pdf UK Nuclear Energy – Fuel of the Future?], accessed 11 Jan 2010</ref>
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Its website says that members meet over eight lunches a year, at the Naval and Military Club in St James Square, London. It says that a "high profile guest speaker provides a brief presentation and opportunity for lively discussion" about "current and future challenges affecting the energy industry".<ref>[http://www.eicuk.org Location], Energy Industries Club website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.eicuk.org/about About], Energy Industries Club website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012</ref>
  
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==Key Personnel==
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==Playing down Fukushima==
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[[David Porter]], the President of the Energy Industries Club 2003-5 is also the CEO of [[Association of Electricity Producers]] (AEP).<ref>[http://www.theenergylectures.co.uk/david_porter.html David Porter OBE], The Energy Lectures website, accessed 11 Jan 2010</ref> Past Presidents include [[Robert Hawley]], [[Robert Evans]] and [[Archie Lamb]].
 
  
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==A Complaint and Request To Remove From the Site==
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In July 2011, four months after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, [[Vincent de Rivaz]], CEO of [[EDF Energy]] made a speech to the EIC in which he asked "what impact has Fukushima had? Has it fundamentally altered the process?" He continued: "The answer is no."
  
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NuclearSpin has had a request from the Energy Industries Club (EIC) to remove its listing from the website. The EIC has pointed out that the article on which its entry is based, written by Jonathan Leake and Dan Box (see reference below), was according to its Secretary and Treasurer, Steve Blackwell, “garbage”. Blackwell argues that the article "tried to imply that the Energy Industries Club is some sort of ‘secret society’ supporting nuclear".  
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He said that the "new nuclear programme in the UK should not be subject to unnecessary delay". He thanked the Energy Minister [[Charles Hendry]], who was also at the meeting. He said: "Charles is held in high regard throughout the industry. I would like to thank him and his colleagues across Government for the leadership they have demonstrated in recent months".<ref>Vincent de Rivaz, [http://www.edfenergy.com/media-centre/press-news/Nuclear_New_Build_2011_05_07_11_(2).pdf NUCLEAR NEW BUILD 2011 - The road to Final Investment Decisions], EDF, 5 July 2011</ref>
  
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Blackwell says "It is nothing of the sort - purely one where people with an interest in energy meet over lunch with high level speakers from across the sector. Some members used to work in the sector ands remain members even though they are retired. We have former Chairmen of the major energy companies who still attend occasionally”.
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==Current committee==
  
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The meeting to which Dan Box was invited by the EIG was Chatham House rules and therefore should not have been reported. The EIG also point out that the membership list is not secret as such; it is just never given out to protect members.
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The following people are listed on the Club’s website: <ref>[http://www.eicuk.org/committee-2 Committee], Energy Industries Club website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012</ref>
  
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Although the EIC says it is neither pro nor anti-nuclear, it may have pro-nuclear members. Steve Blackwell, who has a history of working in the gas industry, argues that although he has no axe to grind either way on nuclear, if we are going to have to reduce carbon dioxide emissions then as Britain’s ageing nuclear power plants are decommissioned they are going to have to be replaced by new nuclear power plants. A list of speakers to the club is available below. <ref>[http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/8/86/EIC.PDF The Energy Industries Club, Programme 2005/2006]</ref>
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===President===
  
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==Related Articles==
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*[[Mike Rolls]], Director of Business Development and Government Affairs at [[Siemens]] Energy Sector; formerly Sales Director at [[Alstom Power]]<ref>[http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/mike-rolls/12/947/b13 LinkedIn entry for Mike Rolls], LinkedIn website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012</ref>
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*Jonathan Leake and Dan Box, [http://www.spinwatch.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1013 The Nuclear Charm Offensive], ''New Statesman'', May 23, 2005
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 +
===Past presidents===
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*[[Louise Kingham]]
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*Dr [[Jeff Chapman]]
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*[[William Fortescue]]
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*Dr [[Robert Hawley]]
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*[[David Jefferies]]
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*[[Michael Lodge]]
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*[[David Porter]], CEO of [[Association of Electricity Producers]]<ref>[http://www.newenergyeconomy.co.uk/bios.php David Porter], www.newenergyeconomy.co.uk, accessed 3 November 2012</ref>
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*Dr [[Alf Roberts]]
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===Secretary/Treasurer===
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*[[Steve Blackwell]]
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===Members===
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*[[David Green]]
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*[[John Ingham]]
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*[[Robert Lane]], a lawyer who has advised nuclear companies<ref>[http://www.cms-cmck.com/Robert-Lane Robert Lane], CMS Cameron McKenna website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012</ref>
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*[[Chris Murray]]
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*[[Lawrence Slade]], Chief Operating Officer of [[Energy UK]]<ref>[http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/about-us/about-our-staff.html About UK Energy's staff], UK Energy website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012</ref>
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*[[David Smith]], [[Chief Executive of the Energy Networks Association]]<ref>[http://www.energynetworks.org/info/about/staff.html ENA staff], ENA website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012</ref>
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*[[Graham Ward]], vice chairman of the [[World Energy Council]]<ref>[http://www.worldenergy.org/about_wec/201.asp About WEC], WEC website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012</ref>
 +
 
 +
===Members not listed on EIC's website===
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Not all members are listed on the website. Others include:
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*[[Brendan Bilton]]<ref>[http://www.cleantechinvestor.com/portal/mainmenucomp/companiesa/584-acal-energy-/11094-brendan-bilton-to-speak-at-investing-in-fuel-cells.html Brendan Bilton to speak at Investing in Fuel Cells], Cleantech Investor, 27 September 2012</ref>
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*[[Roderick Axell]]<ref>[http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/roderick-axell/1b/261/253 Roderick Axell], LinkedIn, undated, accessed 3 November 2012</ref>
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*[[Roger Sargologo]]<ref>[http://www.chambersandpartners.com/uk/Firms/99999999-70514/21204 Roger Sargologo], Chambers and Partners website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012</ref>
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==Guest speakers==
 +
 
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In 2012 and 2013, guest speakers included:<ref>[http://www.eicuk.org/luncheon-dates-2012-13 Luncheon Dates], Energy Industries Club website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012</ref>
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*[[Tim Yeo]] MP, Chairman, DECC Select Committee
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*[[Geoffrey Spence]], CEO, [[Infrastructure UK]]
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*[[Ed Davey]] MP, Secretary of State, Energy and Climate Change
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*[[Tony Cocker]], CEO, [[E.ON UK]]
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*[[Basil Scarsella]], CEO, [[UK Power Networks]]
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*[[Ian Marchant]], CEO, [[Scottish & Southern Energy]]
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*[[Graham van’t Hoff]], Chairman, [[Shell]] UK
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 +
== Historical==
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 +
=== Guest speakers ===
 +
 
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In 2005/6, guest speakers included:<ref>[http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/8/86/EIC.PDF The Energy Industries Club, Programme 2005/2006]</ref>
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*Rt Hon [[Oliver Letwin]] MP
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*[[Vincent de Rivaz]], CEO, [[EDF]] Energy
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*Rt Hon [[Malcolm Wicks]] MP, Energy Minister
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*Alistair Buchanan, CEO, [[Ofgem]]
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*[[James Smith]], Chairman [[Shell]] UK
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*[[Bill Coley]], CEO, [[British Energy]]
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*Andreas Nauen, President, Siemens Wind, Denmark
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===Pro-nuclear lobbying===
 +
 
 +
On March 15, 2005, the club organized a gathering of UK's top opinion formers to hear a speech by [[Mike Alexander]], the Chief Executive of [[British Energy]] entitled "UK Nuclear Energy: fuel of the future?"<ref>Mike Alexander, CEO, British Energy Group plc, [http://www.british-energy.com/documents/msoDB.pdf UK Nuclear Energy – Fuel of the Future?], accessed 11 Jan 2010</ref>
 +
 
 +
An article by Jonathan Leake and Dan Box in the ''New Statesman'' said that this was part of a "nuclear charm offensive" by the industry.
 +
 
 +
The article described how the EIC had invited "more than a hundred leading figures from the UK's energy industry" to hear the speech. "Around the room were a selection of... analysts, corporate traders and members of the media. The journalists could not report the event directly - the invitations were based on so-called Chatham House rules, meaning it was for "background use only". What they were meant to take home was a message: nuclear power is coming back."<ref>Jonathan Leake, [http://www.newstatesman.com/node/150675 The nuclear charm offensive], New Statesman, 23 May 2005, accessed 11 Jan 2010</ref>
 +
 
 +
==='Why we should go nuclear'===
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 +
In December 2006, [[Bernard Ingham]], Secretary of the [[Supporters of Nuclear Energy]] was the guest speaker. His talk, entitled 'Energy Policy Made By Idiots', attacked renewable energy and explained "we should go nuclear".<ref>Bernard Ingham, [http://www.sone.org.uk/content/view/398/30/ Energy Policy Made By Idiots], SONE website, 12 December 2006</ref>
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==='The role of nuclear in future energy supplies'===
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In June 2006, [[Bill Coley]], Chief Executive of [[British Energy]] gave a speech to the EIC entitled: 'The role of nuclear in future energy supplies'. His conclusion was: "Nuclear power already contributes to the UK’s climate change and security of supply and, given the opportunity, can continue to do so for many decades to come. The next few weeks and months are crucial for the future energy policy, for the UK, our sector and the nuclear industry. And it will have a major impact of the lives of future generations. So it is important that we all make the most of this opportunity, for their own good as well as our own."<ref> Bill Coley, [http://www.british-energy.com/documents/Chief_Executive_speech_to_EIC_June_2006.pdf The role of Nuclear in Future Energy Supplies], British Energy website, 6 June 2006</ref>
 +
 
 +
===Allegation of secrecy===
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The ''New Statesman'' article claimed that the EIC "keeps its membership secret". It was published in May 2005, almost seven years before the club set up its website.<ref>[https://who.godaddy.com/whois.aspx?k=ZFFV4sMPkZyth6GmFm2tCQ==&domain=eicuk.org&prog_id=GoDaddy Domain registration information for www.eicuk.org], GoDaddy website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012</ref>
 +
 
 +
===A complaint and request to remove from the site===
 +
 
 +
NuclearSpin created a page about the EIC in 2006 that used the ''New Statesman'' article as source material.
 +
 
 +
It subsequently received a request from the EIC to remove its listing from the website. The EIC's Secretary and Treasurer, [[Steve Blackwell]], said that the article was “garbage”. He argued that it "tried to imply that the Energy Industries Club is some sort of ‘secret society’ supporting nuclear". He added: "It is nothing of the sort - purely one where people with an interest in energy meet over lunch with high level speakers from across the sector. Some members used to work in the sector and remain members even though they are retired. We have former Chairmen of the major energy companies who still attend occasionally”.
 +
 
 +
Blackwell pointed out that the meeting to which Dan Box was invited was conducted under Chatham House rules (which the article itself said) and therefore should not have been reported. He also said that the membership list was not secret as such; it was just never given out to protect members.
 +
 
 +
Although the EIC said it is neither pro nor anti-nuclear, it has pro-nuclear members. Blackwell, who has a history of working in the gas industry, argued that although he has no axe to grind either way on nuclear, but said: "if we are going to have to reduce carbon dioxide emissions then as Britain’s ageing nuclear power plants are decommissioned they are going to have to be replaced by new nuclear power plants."
 +
 
 +
==='Meetings are private'===
 +
 
 +
The EIC's website states: "To facilitate free discussion, meetings are private with no reporting of the proceedings."<ref>[http://www.eicuk.org/about About], Energy Industries Club website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012</ref>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Related articles==
 +
Jonathan Leake and Dan Box, [http://www.newstatesman.com/node/150675 The Nuclear Charm Offensive], ''New Statesman'', May 23, 2005
 +
 
 +
==Website==
 +
[http://www.eicuk.org www.eicuk.org]
  
 
==Resources==
 
==Resources==
Line 27: Line 119:
 
[[Category:Pro-nuclear organisations]]
 
[[Category:Pro-nuclear organisations]]
 
[[Category:Nuclear Spin]]
 
[[Category:Nuclear Spin]]
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[[Category:Fracking]]

Latest revision as of 13:47, 27 January 2017

Nuclear spin.png This article is part of the Nuclear Spin project of Spinwatch.
FrackWell.png This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project

Background

The Energy Industries Club (EIC) is an energy industry body.

Its website says that members meet over eight lunches a year, at the Naval and Military Club in St James Square, London. It says that a "high profile guest speaker provides a brief presentation and opportunity for lively discussion" about "current and future challenges affecting the energy industry".[1][2]

Playing down Fukushima

In July 2011, four months after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Vincent de Rivaz, CEO of EDF Energy made a speech to the EIC in which he asked "what impact has Fukushima had? Has it fundamentally altered the process?" He continued: "The answer is no."

He said that the "new nuclear programme in the UK should not be subject to unnecessary delay". He thanked the Energy Minister Charles Hendry, who was also at the meeting. He said: "Charles is held in high regard throughout the industry. I would like to thank him and his colleagues across Government for the leadership they have demonstrated in recent months".[3]

Current committee

The following people are listed on the Club’s website: [4]

President

Past presidents

Secretary/Treasurer

Members

Members not listed on EIC's website

Not all members are listed on the website. Others include:

Guest speakers

In 2012 and 2013, guest speakers included:[14]

Historical

Guest speakers

In 2005/6, guest speakers included:[15]

Pro-nuclear lobbying

On March 15, 2005, the club organized a gathering of UK's top opinion formers to hear a speech by Mike Alexander, the Chief Executive of British Energy entitled "UK Nuclear Energy: fuel of the future?"[16]

An article by Jonathan Leake and Dan Box in the New Statesman said that this was part of a "nuclear charm offensive" by the industry.

The article described how the EIC had invited "more than a hundred leading figures from the UK's energy industry" to hear the speech. "Around the room were a selection of... analysts, corporate traders and members of the media. The journalists could not report the event directly - the invitations were based on so-called Chatham House rules, meaning it was for "background use only". What they were meant to take home was a message: nuclear power is coming back."[17]

'Why we should go nuclear'

In December 2006, Bernard Ingham, Secretary of the Supporters of Nuclear Energy was the guest speaker. His talk, entitled 'Energy Policy Made By Idiots', attacked renewable energy and explained "we should go nuclear".[18]

'The role of nuclear in future energy supplies'

In June 2006, Bill Coley, Chief Executive of British Energy gave a speech to the EIC entitled: 'The role of nuclear in future energy supplies'. His conclusion was: "Nuclear power already contributes to the UK’s climate change and security of supply and, given the opportunity, can continue to do so for many decades to come. The next few weeks and months are crucial for the future energy policy, for the UK, our sector and the nuclear industry. And it will have a major impact of the lives of future generations. So it is important that we all make the most of this opportunity, for their own good as well as our own."[19]

Allegation of secrecy

The New Statesman article claimed that the EIC "keeps its membership secret". It was published in May 2005, almost seven years before the club set up its website.[20]

A complaint and request to remove from the site

NuclearSpin created a page about the EIC in 2006 that used the New Statesman article as source material.

It subsequently received a request from the EIC to remove its listing from the website. The EIC's Secretary and Treasurer, Steve Blackwell, said that the article was “garbage”. He argued that it "tried to imply that the Energy Industries Club is some sort of ‘secret society’ supporting nuclear". He added: "It is nothing of the sort - purely one where people with an interest in energy meet over lunch with high level speakers from across the sector. Some members used to work in the sector and remain members even though they are retired. We have former Chairmen of the major energy companies who still attend occasionally”.

Blackwell pointed out that the meeting to which Dan Box was invited was conducted under Chatham House rules (which the article itself said) and therefore should not have been reported. He also said that the membership list was not secret as such; it was just never given out to protect members.

Although the EIC said it is neither pro nor anti-nuclear, it has pro-nuclear members. Blackwell, who has a history of working in the gas industry, argued that although he has no axe to grind either way on nuclear, but said: "if we are going to have to reduce carbon dioxide emissions then as Britain’s ageing nuclear power plants are decommissioned they are going to have to be replaced by new nuclear power plants."

'Meetings are private'

The EIC's website states: "To facilitate free discussion, meetings are private with no reporting of the proceedings."[21]


Related articles

Jonathan Leake and Dan Box, The Nuclear Charm Offensive, New Statesman, May 23, 2005

Website

www.eicuk.org

Resources

  1. ↑ Location, Energy Industries Club website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012
  2. ↑ About, Energy Industries Club website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012
  3. ↑ Vincent de Rivaz, NUCLEAR NEW BUILD 2011 - The road to Final Investment Decisions, EDF, 5 July 2011
  4. ↑ Committee, Energy Industries Club website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012
  5. ↑ LinkedIn entry for Mike Rolls, LinkedIn website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012
  6. ↑ David Porter, www.newenergyeconomy.co.uk, accessed 3 November 2012
  7. ↑ Robert Lane, CMS Cameron McKenna website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012
  8. ↑ About UK Energy's staff, UK Energy website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012
  9. ↑ ENA staff, ENA website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012
  10. ↑ About WEC, WEC website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012
  11. ↑ Brendan Bilton to speak at Investing in Fuel Cells, Cleantech Investor, 27 September 2012
  12. ↑ Roderick Axell, LinkedIn, undated, accessed 3 November 2012
  13. ↑ Roger Sargologo, Chambers and Partners website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012
  14. ↑ Luncheon Dates, Energy Industries Club website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012
  15. ↑ The Energy Industries Club, Programme 2005/2006
  16. ↑ Mike Alexander, CEO, British Energy Group plc, UK Nuclear Energy – Fuel of the Future?, accessed 11 Jan 2010
  17. ↑ Jonathan Leake, The nuclear charm offensive, New Statesman, 23 May 2005, accessed 11 Jan 2010
  18. ↑ Bernard Ingham, Energy Policy Made By Idiots, SONE website, 12 December 2006
  19. ↑ Bill Coley, The role of Nuclear in Future Energy Supplies, British Energy website, 6 June 2006
  20. ↑ Domain registration information for www.eicuk.org, GoDaddy website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012
  21. ↑ About, Energy Industries Club website, undated, accessed 3 November 2012
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