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Wind figures do not add up
Credit: The Courier, www.thecourier.co.uk 23 April 2011 ~~
Rosie Vetter of Scottish Renewables (April 20) disputed points by the John Muir Trust regarding wind energy production.
Regarding SNH statistics, she wrote that, “the SNH report does not identify wind farm developments as the main impact on wild land in Scotland”.
However, SNH do identify wind as the primary impact on landscapes as confirmed by Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Environment, in answer to Parliamentary Question S3W-38858, “This will confirm that the area of Scotland from which no built development is visible reduced from 31% in January 2008 to 28% in December 2009. This is in the main caused by wind turbine development.”
Ms Vetter stated that the figures I quoted from the UK Government on onshore wind production were incorrect. The figures I gave were from DECC for 2000 to 2010 and her figures, also from DECC, covered 1998 to 2009 and the “over 30%” load factor she mentioned happened in 1998 and 1999.
She goes on to talk about Scotland, whereas the DECC figures we quoted were for the UK.
This is all just distracting from the main issue. Scotland’s natural landscapes are under threat from the rapid expansion of onshore wind development that the evidence suggests has been oversold.
Helen McDade.
Head of Policy,
John Muir Trust,
Station Road,
Pitlochry.
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