Power of Scotland

Your report (10 November) says everything about the current state of the SNP’s incoherent energy policy. It is now clear that it proposes gambling on the unproven and vastly expensive technology of carbon capture in order to keep our lights on. The reason for its support is undoubtedly due to its growing realisation that building thousands of wind generators does not guarantee there is enough electricity to boil one kettle, let alone 100 per cent of our electricity needs if no wind blows.

In addition, its refusal to consider new carbon-clean nuclear power also means that our ageing carbon-dirty gas and coal power stations will have to stay open longer in an attempt to cover the shortfall and maintain supplies with untold consequences for our environment.

Alan J Black

Camus Avenue

Edinburgh

The news that Altium Securities has published a report supporting SNP renewable energy plans and criticising adverse reports recently issued by Citigroup Bank and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) is more a cause of amusement than surprise.

Altium Securities proudly boasts that it is “a pan-European leader in the fields of renewables”. Altium cannot be expected to welcome the hard reality expressed by Citigroup and the IMechE any more than a turkey can be expected to welcome the approach of Christmas.

William Oxenham

Easter Currie Place

Edinburgh

We are pleased a public local inquiry will be held over Hunterston coal-fired power station (your report, 9 November), allowing the unprecedented levels of public opinion about an unpopular development to be voiced. This is right and proper in a democratic society.

The scope of the inquiry will be limited because of Hunterston’s inclusion in the National Planning Framework (NPF) and will not allow people to object to the need for the development.

There remains a fundamental problem with “national developments” such as Hunterston and Rosyth container terminal in that by the time the development gets to the planning application stage, effectively the decision has already been made.

Many people are unaware of the implications of the NPF and few are aware of the consultation process on this document. This was demonstrated by the fact that only 26 people responded to the inclusion of Hunterston coal-fired power station in the NPF compared with 21,000 people who objected when the planning application was submitted.

Let’s hope when it comes to the next NPF the government will do all it can to ensure that people are able to express their concerns at this early stage of the planning process.

Clare Symonds & Iain Thom

Planning Democracy

Stanley Road

Edinburgh