Letter: Nuclear option

Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) Scotland Forum's negative views on nuclear power (Letters, 28 September) may be sincerely stated but offer no alternative other than variable renewable supplies. During the past 24 hours, wind energy has contributed only 1 per cent of the total grid demand, hydro energy and pump storage a further 2.4 per cent.

As fossil fuel supplies diminish, what alternative to nuclear supply do NFLA offer? Even if the Scottish landscape was covered in windmills, there would be many days when we would have to import electricity from England, Wales, France and Ireland or face frequent power cuts. Wave energy was being experimented with when I was at university in the 1960s. How far have we got in 50 years? Fossil fuel generates 85 per cent of our electricity. Eventually, coal and gas generation has to be replaced, and energy saving on a massive scale will be required in addition to new power stations.

I would suggest that if the question put to the 1,000 people in the recent Scotsman poll had been "Nuclear power or power cuts and rationing?" the result might have been very different.

SANDY HORN

Easter Belmont Road

Edinburgh