Nationalisation was a mistake – The Herald

I NOTE with interest your recent coverage of the renewable energy debate
(“Country could be powered by wind, says WWF”, The Herald, November 4, and
Letters, November 5).

I live in a small village just north of Dunblane and my living room window
looks out over the hills, the Braes of Doune to be precise. There are 36
wind turbines on the hills and as I write, the sky is blue, there is hardly
a cloud and not a breath of wind. Accordingly, not one blade is turning.
The ambient temperature is of the order of 6C, pretty nippy but not an
untypical scenario for this time of year. I would not be surprised if these
atmospheric conditions were prevalent throughout Scotland on this day, in
which case few if any of the numerous wind farms will be producing much
electricity.

We are fortunate that we still have a few nuclear and fossil-fuelled power
stations which are energising my lighting, electric kettle, TV and so on.

However, if the Scottish Govern­ment continues to pursue the misguided
policy of all energy to be provided by renewables only, on a day like today
I’m sure there would be few if any electrical appliances able to operate,
not to mention street lighting. Just think of the chaos that would occur if
the lights went out in our big cities. I am glad I live in the country.

I regret to say that the privatis­ation of the electrical industry has been
a big mistake and we have been and are still being very badly let down. I
am sure if the industry had remained nationalised, plans and finance to
renew or replace the existing nuclear and fossil-fuelled power stations
would have been up to date and implemented long before now.

Bill Mackay,
Allanview,
Ashfield,
Dunblane.