Energy policy should be about ideals as well as economics – The Herald

JOHN Black analyses the economics of renewable energy (Letters, December 13).

He does not take into account that there is another aspect which is
relevant and which may explain the consistent popularity of wind and other
forms of renewable energy here in Scotland – a deeply-held desire to keep
Scotland as unpolluted as possible. This in itself brings economic benefits
in the realms of agriculture, tourism, quality of life.

People in Scotland appreciate that cheap fossil fuel has done enormous
damage to the planet – air pollution, acidification of water courses,
ever-increasing numbers of private cars which make life in our cities
intolerable. These problems are extremely costly to tackle. I note that the
cost of cleaning up Sellafield has risen to £75bn (still rising and paid by
the taxpayer). I also note that the liquidators for the Scottish Coal
Company face huge costs for environmental clean-up (“Appeal judges rule
mines must be cleaned up”, The Herald, December 13). I do not see this in
Mr Black’s calculations. Torness and Longannet are not cheap.

The planet breathes a sigh of relief with every renewable project. There
must be investment in renewable energy. It is difficult living in a time of
transition. It is expensive but we must continue the search for
non-polluting energy. We have a duty to future generations to stop damaging
fossil-fuel emissions which threaten our health and well-being.

We live increasingly in an era of accountants and balance-sheets. But we
must have ideals. The cheapest is not necessarily the best.

J Lodge,
3 Sandhead Road,
Strathaven.