Wind direction  

Credit:  www.scotsman.com 25 October 2011 ~~

I was pleased to read that in Scotland, Mr Fergus Ewing, minister for energy, enterprise and tourism, would be willing to listen to alternative views on subsidies for renewables (your report, 22 October) and that there will now be a period of public consultation on the matter. It is not before time.

Onshore wind farm construction is causing a great deal of damage and loss to this nation’s greatest asset, her world renowned landscape. As a means of limiting that growth, plans to reduce subsidies in this direction from one ROC (renewable obligation certificates) per megawatt hour to 0.9 is a small step, but a worthwhile one, in the right direction .

At a time of serious financial constraint, and with fuel poverty numbers increasing and fuel bills soaring, to focus resources even further, if tidal and wave power are to be given the level of support required I would even suggest consideration be given to cutting the ROCs for onshore wind generation all together.

Onshore wind is a mature industry, the only real winners being landlords, developers and foreign owned energy companies and suppliers. It is time this sector of the renewables industry was made to stand on its own feet.

Neil McKinnon

Tulchan Garden

Perth