Wind policies are making us a poorer nation
YOU state that “existing turbines currently produce enough energy to
generate 98 per cent of the country’s electricity demand” (“Key questions
over upgrading of wind farms”, Herald editorial, November 20).
This figure is misleading because the wind does not blow 24/7. The average
annual output of the entire UK fleet of windmills is no greater than 10 per
cent of actual demand. See www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk website for evidence.
And if our current fleet of windmills can produce 98 per cent of demand can
someone please explain why we need to erect more of them?
I presume proposed taller windmills to be used in re-powering existing wind
farms will require significantly larger bases, meaning much more peatland
is likely to be disturbed or destroyed if new bases are built from scratch.
Yet it is recognised that peatland is a valuable carbon sink, therefore it
seems logical to re-utilise bases already constructed. If not re-utilised
what will become of them?
Our Scottish Government has aspirations to be world leaders in absolutely
everything it seems to me. But in doing so are making us a poorer nation as
pointed out in your Letters Pages under the headline “Our gullible
politicians are promoting and supporting fuel poverty” (November 20)
Brian Bell,
15 Muirpark Road, Kinross.
AS the SNP energy policy blindly backs turbine developments the cost to
Scotland is not limited to the scarring of our wonderful hills and
mountains but has now made our energy costs the highest in Europe,
contributing to extensive family energy poverty being experienced by
families throughout Scotland.
The SNP administration has evolved a subsidy and compensation scheme for
renewable energy suppliers that is a dripping roast for the turbine owners
and pays them substantial compensation payments for NOT producing electricity.
These costs are added back into our energy bills, leaving many families
with the desperate option of whether to heat or eat.
Dennis Forbes Grattan,
3 Mugiemoss Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen.
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