On the subject of future electricity generation in Scotland, politicians of all the major parties are indulging in hypocrisy and wishful thinking.
Labour is promising us 50% renewable generation by 2050, the SNP 60%, the Greens 80% and the LibDems 100%. However, not one of these parties can tell us how they propose to achieve this, other than vague mumblings about wind, which is unreliable, and wave and tidal, both of which are unproven.
Labour claims to be well on the way to achieving its target of 20% renewable generation by 2010, without mentioning that this will be largely achieved due to long-existing hydro power stations.
This election-generated bidding war will only further encourage the dash for cash, haphazard activities of windmill developers and landowners to the detriment of Scotland’s highly prized landscapes for little or no environmental benefit.
Not only is this wing-and-a-prayer approach to a major issue irresponsible and extremely worrying, but it gives credence, if any more were needed, to the widely held belief that Holyrood is nothing other than a very expensive talking shop.
G M Lindsay, Whinfield Gardens, Kinross.
15 April 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/04/16/wishful-thinking-on-electricity/