The problem is that without looking at the background to a person, how can you understand their motivation? As for your question, is it possible to drop one source of power just to switch to another, the answer is not simple. Coal fired power and the other high carbon output sources can be dropped once there is sufficient supply of alternatives. At this stage we should have and be implementing as much renewable sourcing as is humanly possible and having some mini nuclear reactors to fill in for high demand but we haven’t even got close. Rather than just adding solar, wind and water power the current government have been busy pandering to the NIMBYs who would probably be their voters if their pensions hadn’t been taxed. It’s fine having these huge off shore wind farms (after all they’re necessary) but preventing any on shore production is just delaying the inevitable. Scotland, especially the highlands, should be looking at using the power of falling water, as should the lumpier parts of England and Wales. Then all the polluting power stations can simply be decomissioned. Instead, there’s large scale nuclear construction which will take a decade, which is far too slow but is sold as our solution to our current problems.
They was at one point going for tidal power in Swansea but, not sure what happened there. Although probably down to the nimbo warriors.
Theres a large windmill farm being built not to far away but, there planned to stop turning at night or when the wind blows more than a breeze. Like with al windmills the power produced needs to be harnessed, rather than the thing shut down at great cost.
Nuclear Fusion will in my oppinion help to turn the tide but of course there”s nimby warriors against that and its going to be a least a decade before we see anything meaningful.
The list goes on but untill there becomes an 100% reliable source to take over fossil, fossil needs to be the the power (back up power of choice). Unfortunately theres not alot you or I can do.
North sea oil I agrea with if it is used to bring down energy prices in the UK but, the weird world we live in will see it exported, at the same time we import of someone else. However I see oil being mined for many years if only for its bi-products and vehicle oils also seen in EV’s, unless the world cn come up with something else 🙂