Wind disaster

The “negativity” with regard to wind energy which Marion Paul (Letters, 24 June) complains about arises, at least from knowledgeable correspondents, mainly because it is quite patently not a suitable choice as the main energy source for the modern world.

In my opinion, having elected to go along this path, the Scottish Government compounds its error by resorting to obfuscation in its promotion. Claims of producing 100 per cent of our electrical energy requirements in the short term from renewable sources are nonsense. If not, then why the panic about the early closure of Longannet?

Being able to provide 25 per cent of Europe’s energy from Scottish renewables was a quite risible claim, fortunately not now being bruited. Complete reliance on renewables for the future has had much attention from experts – even the “greenest” of these have not produced convincing arguments.

We may note also that wind energy is not so “clean” as Ms Paul thinks.

A few years ago Denmark had by far the highest proportion of wind turbines per capita yet was also at the high end of Europe’s carbon emissions table and if we take into account the production of turbine materials in, for example, China then wind turbines are actually a bit of an environmental disaster.

Unless there is a dramatic and immediate change of philosophy Scotland will have to import electricity within the next few years.

From where is a problem for rUK.

(Dr) A McCormick

Kirkland Road

Terregles, Dumfries

I note with interest Marion Paul’s obviously sincere letter. However, my opposition to the industrialisation of our wild lands originated with my great regret at the resulting loss of that unique and internationally recognised asset.

However, when I began to consider the economic and political implications I realised that the current energy strategy has less to do with reducing carbon emissions, at which it is disastrously ineffective, than with transferring large sums of money from ordinary folk to big business and wealthy land owners.

In comparison with these sums the “community benefits”, about which the wind lobby make great play, are paltry and go usually too far from needy communities.

In other words, it is neoliberalism at its worst, ironically and enthusiastically promoted by the allegedly social democratic SNP government.

John Milne

Ardgowan Drive

Uddingston