'Green energy' could become new Darien

Your reports (25 May) on the proposed Scottish "green economy" recall the false hopes raised by the 18th-century Darien Scheme, which promised wealth from new trade but ended in fiasco, bankrupting the national economy.

Our politicos seem to have been duped by the "Renewables" salesmen, who want 4 billion spent yearly on wind, (experimental) water turbines, etc for 40 years, to generate 14bn in sales of surplus electricity. The pious hopes of curtailing carbon emissions while generating adequate power to meet domestic and industrial needs are not supported by detailed estimates based on careful prediction.

Since the UK accounts for less than 2 per cent of world production, we cannot usefully help to offset greenhouse gas effects and, given the proportions of daily UK electricity generation by our existing 2,800 wind turbines, the claim Scotland could become the "Saudi Arabia of wind energy" rings very hollow.

Whence the money and the power can come to meet the WWF's call that 10 per cent or more of our cars must be powered by electricity within ten years – certainly not from renewable sources. Perhaps wiser counsels can save us from a new Darien fiasco.

(DR) CHARLES WARDROP

Viewlands Road West

Perth

Steuart Campbell (Letters, 26 May) hit the nail of the head with regard to the potential of renewables in Scotland. We only have to look back to the OTT claims for terrestrial wind turbines and then check the British Wind Energy Association's figures on the Neta website to see the difference between hyperbole and reality (eg, 2,800 UK turbines producing 0.3 per cent of energy supply in the past 24 hours).

Without cash subsidies, it is doubtful if many wind farms could stand on their own two feet. So poor is the prospect of worthwhile amounts of electricity being derived from wind, that I extend to Lesley Riddoch (Opinion, 24 May), my earlier offer to Alex Salmond and Co to pay them 2 each every time the Neta table shows wind producing 2 per cent and more of UK power if, every time it is under 2 per cent, they pay me 1. I think their silence will prove they have all "got the wind up".

RON GREER

Armoury House

Blair Atholl, Perthshire

I read with interest your report (26 May) that an EDF poll showed strong support for wind and other renewable energy projects over nuclear power. I am delighted Scots support renewable energy and that almost 70 per cent were in favour of onshore wind. Scotland is one of the windiest parts of the British Isles and it makes sense to tap into this free, clean natural resource rather than choose unsafe, dirty and waste-producing nuclear power. It was interesting that this poll came from the pro-nuclear EDF.

Your readers may also be interested in a You Gov poll for Greenpeace, which showed 59 per cent support for renewable energy compared to 34 per cent for nuclear energy.

(CLLR) EUAN McLEOD

Convener Nuclear Free Local Scotland