Letter: Why bother?

After the recent cold spell, only those existing in never-never land, or the wilfully blind, are unaware that when temperatures fall very low, the wind tends to drop.

Consequently, for every wind generator installed, another installation of "dirty'', non wind-powered generators must be kept maintained and on stand-by, ready to keep the lights on when there is no wind.

Is this necessity reflected in the business cases of the forests of new wind farms Messrs Salmond and Mather seem hell-bent on inflicting upon Scotland? And if a second investment in a reliable stand-by generation source is a necessity, why bother with wind farms in the first place?

ALEXANDER McKAY

New Cut Rigg

Edinburgh