Stephen Mcilkenny’s article (“Pylon row shows moving green energy comes at a cost”, Scotsman, 4 April) implies that the anger expressed at SSEN’s proposed transmission line development from Spittal in Caithness to Beauly derives from a failure on the part of objectors to recognise the necessities of greening our electricity network. The implication is that the opposition is driven by both ignorance and selfishness.
Perhaps though, most objections would disappear if there was a belief that the landscape disruption was unavoidable in reaching a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and achieving a fairer energy policy.
Scepticism surely emanates from the fact that the design of the infrastructure is driven overwhelmingly by the company’s desire to maximise shareholders’ profit. Increasingly, even supporters of the need for extensive onshore wind, are losing patience with the sense that multinational corporate profit trumps any other consideration. High power transmission cable can be buried but since this option is a bit more expensive then it’s a non-starter. There is a growing sense that our necessary transition to a greener economy is anything but just.
As with electricity generation, so with tree planting and peat conservation. Reasonable people are surely supportive of emission reductions. It is however less easy to believe in the wisdom and fairness of the development of lucrative carbon markets.
Increasingly it seems we are asked to believe that the only ways to save the planet is to maximise the profits of the already filthy rich.
Dick Webster, Kingussie, Highland
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