When the SNP were in opposition in Scotland in 2007, their present Energy
Minister, Fergus Ewing claimed: “The SNP believes that many other forms of
renewable energy are the future, not unconstrained wind farms.
Wind farms have … a very heavy environmental footprint not only blotting
the landscape in places … but also in the release of substantial
quantities of methane from peat landscapes.”
So why is Mr Ewing so keen to undermine Amber Rudd’s decision as Secretary
of State for Energy and Climate Change to end onshore wind farm subsidies
from April 2016?
As a former student of law, Mr Ewing evidently has the ability to support
both sides of an argument with equal conviction. That is confirmed by his
championing the unconstrained scramble by the corporate sector to plant
wind farms on so many of Scotland’s peat-rich uplands – at England’s expense.
Mr Ewing might profitably consider the opinion of Johannes Teyssen, chief
executive of German energy giant E.ON, that as onshore wind electricity
generation is no longer in its infancy; that the continuation of the
subsidy regime is no longer justified; and that the beneficiaries “just
want to harvest subsidies without accountability”.
Dr Ken Brown,
2 Dundreggan Bungalows,
Glenmoriston,
Inverness.
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