THE Ode to Turbines by M Bowd (letters, August 24) summed up many people s feelings about this issue. It was just brilliant. Could we encourage Mr Bowd to write more on other local topical subjects? His reference to Will they ever make them pay, cheap
THE 'Ode to Turbines' by M Bowd (letters, August 24) summed up many people's feelings about this issue. It was just brilliant.
Could we encourage Mr Bowd to write more on other local topical subjects?
His reference to "Will they ever make them pay, cheap electricity, you must be joking," became even more topical following the recent BBC Radio 4 programme entitled 'Costing the Earth'.
A number of independent experts claimed that the power of the wind to deliver electricity is being overestimated by companies keen to cash in on big subsidies being offered by the government.
On paper, wind power sounds a great proposition, the experts said, but despite the Government having subsidised the wind industry to the tune of half a billion pounds so far, as yet, its failed to deliver 0.5 per cent of our electricity needs, their words, not mine.
Both national and international wind developers are trying to cash in on these Government subsidies, and with our local council welcoming these developers to our area, we must be the honey pot for wind turbine developers from around the world.
One of the experts claimed the Government's concept of providing subsidies was seriously flawed and was an expensive way of reducing carbon emissions.
His view was that we could reduce carbon emissions more effectively, and more cheaply, simply by reducing our energy needs, such as, turning our household appliances off when not needed, using public transport more, fewer trips by aircraft and smaller vehicles.
Asked why the Government is not doing more on this approach he said it was because it was obsessed with building renewable energy systems. They, the turbines, look as if the Government is doing something to combat climate change, a vote winner he claimed.
No doubt the wind industry will reply to these claims as outrageous. It would, as there is big money to be made out of these developments, much of it our money.
At the same time the turbines are saving minimal carbon emissions while despoiling our countryside.
What a disaster.
TREVOR WATSON
The Laurels
March
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