One of the driving forces over the last few years which introduced many new owners to amenity woodlands was the attraction of free fuel. Faced with soaring energy prices that bit deep into the household budget, the idea of your own little plot providing sustainable free green carbon-neutral energy encouraged thousands to install wood burners, and many to take the plunge into woodland ownership.
With Oil falling 40% this year and set to fall further largely due to the USA's shale oil and fracking boom, it can be expected that overall domestic energy heating costs will finally start to fall, with gas, coal and renewables (including wood) having to compete with cheaper oil. Oil tends to be the driving force in the energy market.
Several newspapers have predicted falling Oil prices could be a disaster for the 'green revolution' of renewables, clean energy such as wind and PV has a high initial capital cost, as does buying a wood.
Of course there are many attractions to buying a wood, its not just about logs and energy, but it makes a good excuse. There's the connection with outdoors and nature, keeping fit, a sanctuary away from modern stress, and an alternative investment. Logs though, are one of the big attractions, often quoted by selling companies. If the cost of flicking on the central heating switch does plummet (.....eventually, strange how slowly the 'big six' lower their prices when costs fall), one of the previous benefits of owning a wood might become marginally less advantageous.
The Russians think its a US conspiracy to wreck their economy in revenge for Ukraine, its certainly set to severely damage the Oil-dependant Russian economy. However, its a really a long term consequence of the US's desire to wean off dependence on geopolitically risky imported oil, plus the prospect of a cooling global economy, with China and the Eurozone stalling. Not good news for Scotland & Aberdeen or exponents of a low carbon future, although it makes the Scottish 'No' vote to independence now look very fortunate, Salmond budgeted on oil at $110, not $60.