Bleak outlook

Brian Hunter’s claim (Letters, 18 September) that wind turbines may enhance “bleak moorlands” raises a question or two about his aesthetic sensibilities.

At least as much to the point, however, is his misguided belief that they offer any kind of solution to our impending energy crisis or to the problem of carbon dioxide emissions. Look at the evidence, Mr Hunter.

Germany, for example, once the economic powerhouse of Europe, is now floundering in fuel poverty and debt amidst forests of wind turbines erected in an excess of zeal for renewable energy.

More than 300,000 households a year are having their electricity cut off for failing to pay what have become the highest bills in the world. More than 2,000 businesses have had to be exempted from “green” energy surcharges to square up to international competition.

One federal government study predicts a 40 per cent increase in electricity prices by 2020.

Germany’s reckless commitment to wind power has caused to much dislocation of supplies that inefficient generators, fuelled by dirty brown coal, are now providing essential backup.

Consequently, although Germany’s production of electricity from renewable sources increased by more than 10 per cent in 2012, its carbon emissions also increased by 2 per cent.

And the Federal Network Agency now predicts that even by 2022 the use of brown coal will hardly be reduced by the increasing contribution of renewable energy.

Is this to be the future for Scotland when England’s exploitation of shale gas gets under way?

(Dr) Ken Brown

Glenmoriston

Inverness

If proof were ever needed that the urban population of Scotland sees no problem with the desecration of Scotland’s landscape by wind turbines, the support for them shown by Brian Hunter in his view that they improve bleak moorland really says it all.

Malcolm Parkin

Gamekeepers Road

Kinnesswood