Stick to nuclear

Published on Tuesday 22 June 2010 20:23

Perhaps private funders will not tilt at investing in the Quixotic windmills, seen as the answer to our energy needs, because these investors have doubts in the long term.

Tom Spiers (Letters, 22 June) is so typical of the green attitude to procurement in that he seems to believe that to kick start the uneconomic – and in this case inefficien – government, funding is thrown in its direction by way of subsidy assisted by regulation shortcuts.

Traditional investors have a duty to invest sensibly.

A change of attitude by future governments should see all our electricity produced by nuclear and some carbon-capture power stations. This would dispense with the need for alternative, intermittent sources.

The windmills astride our scenic tops would then become redundant, be dismantled and removed. The concrete bases, the tracks through the landscape and the landowners' contractual rentals would, however, remain.

That is green – the landscapes and seascapes as they should be. Air quality and pollution are addressed. The investment would be safe and secure. The power stays on.

GORDON AITKEN

Montgomery St

Kinross

Much has quite rightly been made of Scotland's tremendous opportunity in the field of renewable energy, our nation's green "gold rush", but it is a sector whose skills base needs to be geared up if we are to achieve this envisaged growth.

While we have the potential, according to the Scottish Government, to create 26,000 new jobs in renewables by 2020, we also face the challenge of an ageing workforce and a shortage of skilled workers. Adequate forecasting will allow us to see those areas where there currently are, and are set to be, skills shortages.

We will also need to re-skill workers from outwith the industry and upskill those within, while also attracting young people into the sector.

The need to attract young people is a challenge, which is why we need to make entry into it a more attractive option at school and university/college, supplying the necessary skills in relevant areas, as well as ensuring greater collaboration with employers in identifying skills requirements and providing practical support.

We are working with the Scottish Government, employers and colleges to ensure the right skills are available to let Scotland realise its full renewable energy potential.

JACQUI HEPBURN

Alliance of Sector Skills Councils, Scotland

Castle Street

Edinburgh