War of words over wind power

Published on Friday 1 February 2008 20:46

It was with horror and dismay that I read that Scottish ministers have now begun to make up their minds to veto the Lewis wind farm project (your report, 26 January). How on earth – literally – are we going to meet the new (much too feeble) targets, regarding electricity generated from renewable sources, if "environmentalists" keep screaming "murder" each time something is done to start to help save the planet?

The moors surely will fare well enough, even with wind turbines on them. Protecting a beautiful view is all very well until we are left with no beautiful view to protect. I can't help but wonder whether the opponents of these and other renewable schemes have thought about these alternatives. If we were to bury our heads in the sand and continue to use up the earth's resources and drown her in rubbish, our children will certainly pay the price.

KARIN KREMER

Millbank Road

Munlochy, Ross-shire

It is good news that the Scottish Government is "minded to refuse" the application by Ameco to build up to 176 wind turbines on the peatlands of Lewis. This at least gives time for reflection and discussion.

Electricity produced by wind power is 50 per cent to 100 per cent more expensive than that produced by coal, oil, gas or nuclear-fuelled power stations. But more importantly, wind power has to have 100 per cent back-up for the time when the wind is not blowing. This increases the cost further due to the capital expense of the back-up power station(s). So why not just build more "back-up" power stations and forget about the wind turbines?

The last thing we need are wind turbines, whether in Lewis or anywhere else. They will contribute nothing to future power generation.

JOHN H KNOX

Morningside Park

Edinburgh

One of the principle duties of good government is to provide a secure and reliable electricity generation and transmission system for its citizens, and at a cost they can afford; not least for the aged, the sick or infirm, and those living in fuel poverty.

Wind turbines on any scale are but a sop to conscience and, in respect of climate change and global warming, are mere gesture politics. Until the problem of energy storage is solved economically, they will remain a wholly unpredictable and unreliable way of generating electricity for the foreseeable future, and therefore cannot be relied upon to provide for this nation's needs without back-up support from conventional generation plants.

NEIL McKINNON

Tulchan Garden

Glenalmond, Perthshire

Alex Salmond constantly talks of Scotland's future as a low-carbon, renewables powerhouse, but, at the same time, his government rejects plans for Europe's largest wind farm, on Lewis.

At the same time, nuclear power gets the thumbs down. Is there an energy strategy at all there in Holyrood? Never mind, surely we can tolerate the inconvenience of power cuts knowing that the undistinguished bog in Lewis is undisturbed.

DONALD McBRIDE

Craigleith Hill Crescent

Edinburgh