It is good news that the Scottish Government is “minded to refuse” the application by Ameco to build up to 176 wind turbines on the peatlands of Lewis. This at least gives time for reflection and discussion.
Electricity produced by wind power is 50 per cent to 100 per cent more expensive than that produced by coal, oil, gas or nuclear-fuelled power stations. But more importantly, wind power has to have 100 per cent back-up for the time when the wind is not blowing. This increases the cost further due to the capital expense of the back-up power station(s). So why not just build more “back-up” power stations and forget about the wind turbines?
The last thing we need are wind turbines, whether in Lewis or anywhere else. They will contribute nothing to future power generation.
JOHN H KNOX
Morningside Park
Edinburgh
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One of the principle duties of good government is to provide a secure and reliable electricity generation and transmission system for its citizens, and at a cost they can afford; not least for the aged, the sick or infirm, and those living in fuel poverty.
Wind turbines on any scale are but a sop to conscience and, in respect of climate change and global warming, are mere gesture politics. Until the problem of energy storage is solved economically, they will remain a wholly unpredictable and unreliable way of generating electricity for the foreseeable future, and therefore cannot be relied upon to provide for this nation’s needs without back-up support from conventional generation plants.
NEIL McKINNON
Tulchan Garden
Glenalmond, Perthshire
2 February 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/02/02/last-thing-we-need-are-wind-turbines/