Wind Power News: Letters
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
What does ‘acceptable loss’ mean?
What does “acceptable loss” mean? Also known as “acceptable damage,” it’s a military euphemism used to indicate casualties or destruction inflicted by the enemy that is considered minor or tolerable. During the Special Use Permit for Alta Farms II vote, this phrase rang loud for me. Seven county board members considered families like mine and the impacts we will suffer as an acceptable loss. I felt betrayed by my elected leaders. Would we have moved here if we had known . . . Complete story »
Green ambitions come at a high price
The news that SSE are about to submit their plans to Ofgem for a back-up power station for Shetland, and it’s timing, is a surprising twist in the tale of the solution to Shetland’s energy needs. Surely these plans and the cost of them should have been included in the “consultation” about the inter-connector. The capital expenditure on the back-up power supply is likely to be similar to that associated with keeping a power plant in Lerwick to meet Shetland’s . . . Complete story »
Constraints on Scotland
I am afraid it is Tom Cassells (Letters, October 18) who does not “have a clue how the energy industry works” and I would suggest he refers to the Renewable Energy Forum website for a little lesson as this contains a detailed explanation of the constraints payments system with links to the Balancing Mechanism and other informative sites. The data on constraints can also be obtained from this site and by last week the total for the whole of the . . . Complete story »
Shetland deserves answers
The area around the Burn of Lunklet has been rechristened Turbineland by a passer-by. Of course, signs shouldn’t be vandalised, but the new name is rather apt. Approximately 12 of Viking Energy’s 103 turbines are planned within two kilometres of the waterfall, in addition to miles of access roads. The Burn of Lunklet is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), just like the Sandwater loch. It is also an area of outstanding natural beauty, a hotspot for wildlife and . . . Complete story »
Stuck in a wind farm sink estate
It is telling that Susan Law’s Agenda article (“Practicality is key if we want more turbines”, The Herald, October 15) makes no mention of the communities and people who live in the areas “that aren’t the most accessible”. It is however a useful insight into how the factors, landowners and money people view the communities in these areas – they don’t even register in their thought processes. It is an attitude reminiscent of a different era. The fact that the . . . Complete story »
Wind power is noisy, totally useless and very expensive
Wind turbines are, in my opinion, a complete waste of time money and energy, in fact I’d call them a folly and a bigger blight on our landscape than the odd power station. The Government are going to waste trillions on the desecration of our green and pleasant land. Boris Johnson claims that we are going to be leaders in the field of windpower, but he also claims we are leading in the fight against Covid. He is completely bonkers. . . . Complete story »
Turbine failure under SNP’s watch
Scottish Labour has called on the Scottish Government to “stand up” for domestic jobs following the decision that the multi-billion-pound Seagreen offshore wind farm is to be manufactured abroad and built with foreign labour. A spokesman parroted the usual platitudes on how the Scottish Government was committed to supporting growth within the Scottish supply chain. The SNP has controlled Scotland’s devolved legislature since 2007 so has had adequate time to ensure that Scotland’s companies and workforce benefited from the wind . . . Complete story »
Vineyard Wind project has opposition
I read with great interest “The power of wind” point of view (Sept. 21) by Allie McCandless. The writer enthusiastically defends the Vineyard Wind Project as one that will launch Massachusetts “into a clean future.” In fact, the Vineyard Wind project has raised considerable opposition among conservationists. The 84 projected wind turbines would install two 220,000-volt alternative current submarine cables, seriously disturbing the underwater ecosystem and the fishing industry by generating heat, noise and possibly disturbing the electromagnetic field. The . . . Complete story »
Concerns about wind turbines
What will the future of Piatt County be if Apex is allowed to proceed with their proposal for 120 wind turbines (750ft tall) on 20,000 acres of prime farmland? Concerned citizens, scientists, physicians, and environmentalists are opposing industrial wind turbines in the USA and internationally. Environmentally these massive structures, that require enormous amounts of resources and fossil fuels to manufacture, transport and erect, destroy irreplaceable fertile farmland and reduce bird and bat populations. At least 14,000 non-biodegradable turbines now litter . . . Complete story »
Turbine blade failure a worry
A recent wind turbine blade failure in Adair County, Iowa, raises questions on the safety of wind turbines and wind farms. Farmers discovered a large section of a 177-foot-long and 18,000-pound blade in a corn field that had separated from a wind turbine in a 48-period before Sept. 18 when KCCI-TV reported it. No one seemed to know exactly when the blade separated and flew into the cornfield. Farmers are concerned about the safety of the wind turbines as this . . . Complete story »
