Letters: Energy fairytale

Maitland Mackie and his good lady returned from holiday to find their offspring had planted a magic bean in the back garden and, lo and behold, a 65-metre wind turbine had sprouted (Platform, 28 April)!

This magic tower so impressed the family they got another three beans and all the people of the land were so pleased for the Mackies they didn’t mind paying extra for the trickle of electricity the four turbines produced.

Maitland decided he had to spread the word to all the villages of the land to plant their own turbines, even if it meant others had to suffer the noise and great size of the machines.

He also told them that the wicked banks would “throw money” at them to help them grow the turbines and once the machines were fully grown the villagers could sit back and watch all the gold falling from the turbines straight into their bank accounts for the next 20 years or more.

And they all lived happily ever after! Disney might do the movie!

The reality is that the Mackies and all other turbine owners are only taking advantage of flawed government policy which heavily subsidises wind.

As for the statement that the banks will throw money at you, check with Neilston Development Trust, which was supposed to have 49 per cent of the Neilston Community Wind farm, only to find the wicked banks would only lend enough for a 28 per cent share.

Economic and environmental argument, Mr Mackie: Scottish Natural Heritage was opposed to the Neilston development due to the lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment but its expert advice was ignored and the community most affected – Uplawmoor – receives no financial benefit whatsoever.

It has split the two communities apart and will do so for the next 25 years.

William Jackson

Uplawmoor

East Renfrewshire

The “green project” to make Foula totally self-sufficient on green energy (your report, 28 April) is a complete folly – not because of “teething problems” which are “causing all-night blackouts” and the need to revert to diesel generators, but rather the £1.5 million being spent on the project.

Given that there are only 22 homes on the island this works out at more than £68,000 per home. The average electricity bill for a home is just over £1,100 per annum; it would have been cheaper giving the islanders free electricity (or diesel for their generators) for the next 60 years.

Michael N Crosby

Muiravonside

By Linlithgow