YOUR VIEWS: Wind power will never meet UK energy demand
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In answering Mr Dermot Williamson (4th May), certain points can be made.
Wind turbines (windmills), marketed as sources of ‘clean’ electric power, were intended to reduce man-made carbon dioxide (CO2) release, so benefitting the climate.
The hope was that their drawbacks, including intermittency of electricity generation, damage to the land, seascape and seabed, to avian wildlife and to human health would be tolerable.
Windmills’ need for constant fossil-fuelled backup, their multiple damaging effects and expenses of installation, maintenance, repair and demolition have robbed them of any early promise.
Despoliation of land and seabed, intermittent operation, and very high long term costs are their worst faults.
Published research work (see, e.g., Lightfoot and Ratzer, 2023) in Denmark, Canada, the US and Israel clearly shows that Earth’s climate is controlled by the sun, cosmic rays, water vapour and clouds.
The impact on climate control of rising atmospheric CO2 is very minimal, almost negligible.
Faults in previous data analyses led to fatal errors which wrongly blamed CO2 for worsening the climate.
Now that a rising CO2 level has been disproved as the climate ‘villain’, reducing its output has clearly been the wrong target to aim at.
Growth of crops and all vegetation vitally depends on CO2, which ‘greens’ planet Earth. As CO2 rises, the world’s vegetation markedly extends.
There have been no significant increases in satellite-monitored planetary temperature for more than two decades.
Our politicians and their advisers should use more modern science as the basis of climate policies. At present, these are very ill-advised, wasteful and counter-productive.
In the UK’s case, with negligible output of greenhouse gases, CO2’s exoneration and the prospects of ruinous costs mean that attempts to achieve net zero and the like can fully safely be scrapped.
Ending these policies would save resources, civil upsets and money, at least £3trillion. There would be no disadvantages.
Our national necessity to build up and maintain electricity supplies cannot be reliably met by dependence on unreliable, fluctuating winds. Our weather is very often anticyclonic and windless. Electricity needs for heating then increase.
Windmills are just costly, unreliable and damaging white elephants.
Charles Wardrop
Viewlands Rd West
Perth.
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‘Lapwings’ nests were rolled over’
On May 6 during a visit to the Highlands I was delighted to see two female lapwings sitting on their nests in a field of grass by the roadside.
Earlier on in April I had noted six pairs flying about over the field so the other females were probably sitting on nests further out in the field.
On returning to the area on May 13 I was shocked to see someone with a tractor rolling the grass in the field.
I could clearly see one female still sitting on her nest when the tractor was rolling the grass about 100m from her nest but as the tractor got closer she got off her nest and flew about anxiously with other lapwings that were flying about over the field.
I was extremely concerned about the fate of the lapwing nests and eggs but had to leave the area because of an appointment elsewhere but when I returned later in the day I noted that the whole field of grass had been rolled.
The lapwing I had seen earlier was no longer sitting on her nest but was standing disconsolately in the field along with the other lapwings.
It was obvious that all their nests and eggs and possibly some recently hatched chicks had been destroyed by the rolling process. This is actually an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 i.e. ‘intentionally or recklessly kill take or destroy the egg of any wild bird’.
The farmer must surely have been aware of this but carried on rolling the grass.
I was shocked to have witnessed the reckless destruction of lapwing nests and eggs and possibly chicks because I thought the farmer should have been proud to have these iconic farmland birds nesting on his land particularly since their numbers are in steep decline in many areas.
James K Craib
Rashcrook Walk
New Elgin.
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Electrifying trains on Highlands line
It is encouraging to read that Network Rail is engaged in the electrification of the Highland line (Strathy, May 4). Let us hope there is some electricity to make it work when it is complete.
Malcolm Parkin
Kinross.
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Global coal phase is very much on the up
In his polite response to Charles Wardrop, Dermot Williamson raises several issues. (Letters 4 May).
He is correct that China, India and indeed many other countries have a lower per capita level of greenhouse gases than the West but that will obviously change as they pursue a higher standard of living.
The world population in 1950 was 2.5 billion and today it is 8 billion, a 220 percent increase yet politicians and the climate brigade avoid mentioning this.
The UK, with only 1.13 per cent of global emissions cannot save the planet.
China, India, Indonesia, Asia, Turkey, Zimbabwe, the oil and gas rich countries and the developing countries have no intention of reducing their consumption of cheap fossil fuels.
Coal-fired electricity has increased across the world as yet more coal plants are being built.
Coal is the dirtiest of fossil fuels yet at COP26, China, India and other countries refused point blank to agree to ‘phase out’ coal and only agreed to ‘phase down’ coal but refused to commit to when this ‘phase down’ would start.
It appears that they are now in the ‘phase up’ situation.
Clark Cross
Springfield Road
Linlithgow.
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Unionist parties have embarrassing figures
Even with the current SNP difficulties, which will be resolved, there is a surge in membership of over 2,700.
With ‘transparency’ in mind that comes to 74,889 members and rising.
To date Scottish unionist parties have refused to publish membership figures, perhaps due to embarrassment! Furthermore it is believed that the small Alba independence party has more members that the Scottish Tory party!
Independence is not on the ‘back-burner’ and indeed it’s inevitable for Scotland to progress and flourish.
This will develop Scotland’s massive renewable potential including off-shore wind, hydrogen and low-carbon heat energy sectors, keeping Scotland as a front runner in Europe and the world.
Grant Frazer
Newtonmore.
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Continuing chopper ambulance service will be a fine legacy
On May 22, 2013, Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) launched its life-saving service.
As we mark the 10th anniversary of what has evolved to become a much respected and vital part of Scotland’s emergency response network, we reflect on the magnificent support SCAA has enjoyed from the Scottish public.
Launching with an initial base at Perth Airport, SCAA now sustains two bases – Perth and Aberdeen – with crew, helicopter and Rapid Response Vehicle at each, standing ready 365 days a year to attend emergencies all across Scotland and our many islands.
The cost of maintaining a charity like SCAA is considerable but the Scottish public has been there for us every step of the way.
In our first decade they have donated around £50m, enabling us to save thousands of lives, impact on thousands more and bring help and hope to our more remote and rural communities.
We have responded to nearly 5,000 call outs, ensuring those most seriously ill or injured have paramedic or doctor attention as quickly as possible and are airlifted to advanced hospital care in the fastest possible time.
The SCAA board of trustees took a measured risk launching our first aircraft in 2013, but the charity was, initially, supported by some prominent funders leading to incredible public support.
We are humbled and heartened by a generous public that we hope will help fly us into the future and ensure SCAA is there for those most in need.
We thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for taking SCAA to your hearts and keeping us in the air.
Tragically and very suddenly, in recent days, our chairman and one of the founding trustees, John Bullough MBE, passed away.
His drive and enthusiasm for SCAA was remarkable. John would often finish by stating: “SCAA truly is The People’s Helicopter – funded by the people of Scotland, for the people of Scotland”.
Everyone at SCAA is committed to ensuring that this is his legacy.
Hopefully, you will continue to support us where you can and climb on board for the next 10 years of Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.
David Craig
SCAA Chief Executive.
