Guilt-free energy

John Milne has expressed a rather cynical opinion with regard to the Fetterangus wind turbine project (Letters, 27 December). He is concerned that deprived communities are “funding this largesse from their fuel bills”, and that their needs are being neglected in favour of “the guid folk” of that village.

As the community benefits scheme is open to any community that wishes to apply, whatever the level of need of its members, Mr Milne’s objection is not valid. It does, however, highlight his negative opinion of renewable energy sources, and the green energy levies that are added to our fuel bills to help finance them.

These levies are regarded by objectors as being a severe imposition on us all, though a breakdown of the actual costs reveals a more balanced picture, since they include in-built schemes to help poor and vulnerable customers. The latter schemes actually cost us slightly more per year than the costs arising from renewable energy sources like wind farms and solar panels, currently £58 as opposed to £53, and energy companies are also obliged to pay around £50 a year to help poorer households cut their energy usage. We all also pay £11 a year towards a “warm house” discount of £135 a year for elderly and vulnerable households over the winter.

The weekly cost of the levies for consumers is approximately £2.25, which is roughly a third of the price of a packet of cigarettes. So, since we are all helping to ease the energy costs of the poor, the people of Fetterangus can enjoy the benefits of their new wind turbine without feeling a shred of guilt.

Carolyn Taylor

Gagiebank, Wellbank

Broughty Ferry, Dundee