Blowing in the 2020 wind

STRICTLY speaking, 20/20 vision is a medical term used to express normal clarity or sharpness of vision measured at a distance of 20 feet.

The most recent example of this dubious stratagem was yesterday’s promise from the Executive that 40 per cent of Scotland’s electricity will come from renewable sources by the year 2020. Actually, the Executive flagged this up last year when Westminster made the same commitment for England, but what is a bit of policy repackaging among friends five weeks before an election? The moves were announced by the energy minister, Ross Finnie, who stressed the importance of wind power in meeting the new target. Scotland currently gets 10 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources, principally hydro power.

Since Mr Finnie will not be energy minister in 2020, might we say this for the record? First, Scotland has possibly the least polluting electricity in Europe, due to the fact that most of this power is nuclear-generated. So promising to invest scarce cash in an alternative set-up for no apparent gain requires more justification. Second, the current cost of generating renewable energy (apart from hydro) is more expensive than its alternatives. Thus, inventing a wholly abstract target of 40 per cent for renewables (otherwise known as thinking of a number and doubling it) is done without reference to the bills the consumer will be handed. Third, while expanding wind and wave power is a wholly laudable aim which this newspaper supports, it must proceed on a practical basis guided by economics and consumer need. That alone is 20/20 vision.