March 23, 2013
Letters, Scotland

Wind farms blow a load of hot air

Edinburgh Evening News | Saturday 23 March 2013 | www.scotsman.com

Anti-wind farm campaigners are today protesting outside the SNP conference in Inverness.

Alex Salmond was asked to accept a petition “to stop the reckless siting of wind turbines in Scotland” but instead was sending the Environmental Minister Paul Wheelhouse. Draw your own conclusions.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Wind farms enhance energy security and are already delivering jobs and investment and benefits.”

Enhance energy security? Where will the electricity come from when the wind does not blow?

Two of Scotland’s power companies have already warned of looming blackouts.

Delivering jobs? Only 2235 people are employed directly at Scotland’s 91 onshore wind farms.

Research in various countries has shown that for every green job, three to four are lost in the real economy.

Investment? The turbines are built by foreign developers, using foreign steel, with foreign installation teams and dividends go to foreign shareholders.

Effectively British subsidies, paid for by electricity users and taxpayers, leave the UK for foreign pastures never to be seen again.

Clark Cross, Springfield Road, Linlithgow

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/23/wind-farms-blow-a-load-of-hot-air/