Wind Farms: the battle Lines are drawn
The battle lines for the latest wind farms in the Highlands are being drawn, with an application for one south of Inverness recommended for approval, but councillors who object being forbidden to speak out.
We also have a development on Dava Moor still in the planning stages, and the owners of nearby land certainly don’t seem too pleased – the 9000+ acre Lochindorb Estate next to it was put on the market a while ago.
I’ve made clear my support for wind farms previously – we live in a 21st century where energy consumption and environmental issues need to be addressed.
I also completely disagree that wind farms spoil landscapes – they actually look quite pleasant. Compre the opening image – is it really that ugly? If you think so, how about this – more preferable for Inverness or Dava?
The days of being able to consume the planet how we want, happy that the pollution generated from this remains unseen, or else in someone else’s back yard, are gone.
The Scottish Government – for all its flaws – is certainly commendable for resisting nuclear power and instead putting its lot in with renewal sources.
However, the restriction on two councillors being unable to voice their opinions is an equally bizarre one – the immediate concern is that democracy may not be being served by preventing elected representatives from doing their duty.
But the following concern is that if councillors are simply expressing personal objections, are they really representing the interests of the very people they are are elected by? Certainly when it comes to canvassing for people’s opinion, all councillors seem very thin on directly soliciting local views.
Either way, though, gagging elected officials still remains an ugly and unwelcome situation. Let them air their views so we can tell them what idiotic NIMBYs they are.
Perhaps those who object to wind farms – on whatever bizarre personal terms – should instead be given the clearer choice: wind farm or nuclear power station?
Because that’s the legacy Scotland has had to live with for decades via a string of nuclear reactors around the Scottish coast, slowing filling the coastal waters with radiation – radiation that is officially “safe” but still manages to create pockets of serious illness caused through genetic mutation – cancers, leukaemia, and various hormonal disorders.
Because that is our choice, as we see it – we move forward with renewable energy, or we continue to poison ourselves and our children.
Surely there’s no choice in the matter?
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For or against we should all be worried about efforts to silence democratically elected Councillors. Highland Council or Highland Politburo?
There are two separate strands of discussion here.
One is the issue of whether, and how, councillors should be able to speak up on, and contribute to Council consideration of, windfarms or indeed any other development subject to planning process. On that, I share the concerns already expressed. There is a clear distinction between requiring councillors to abstain from discussing proposals in which they have a vested personal or financial interest; and trying to bar them from discussions on which they – or their constituents – may have opinions. Informed and open debate is the essence of democracy.
The other issue is that of energy sources and supplies. With respect, Brian, the choice is not simply between (nice) windfarms and (nasty) nuclear, and you do the debate a disservice by posing it in such simplistic and emotively scary terms (poison, genetic mutation, etc).
The visual impact of windfarms is a matter of personal taste. In some locations eg offshore, they are relatively unobtrusive. On some wild and unspoiled natural landscapes, they are offensive to many. Context is important.
But the option you completely fail to mention is hydro power. Not for nothing is the local utility named Scottish Hydro. The Highlands have immense untapped potential to expand hydro power by building many more dams and reservoirs, in inland valleys or sea lochs. Hydro is proven technology. It is infinitely renewable. Hydro is efficient, unlike windpower, whose efficiency is still low and operation uneconomic without subsidy. Hydro can provide far greater generating capacity, and can be adjusted for peak load demand; wind is low-output, unpredictable and erratic. Hydro is clean and has no waste issues, unlike nuclear. Hydro is scenically unobtrusive and nature-friendly, and also helps with another issue, that of water supply. Indeed some authorities (eg Severn-Trent) have turned lakes, dams and reservoirs into wildlife habitats, tourism attractions, and recreational assets for activities like sailing and fishing. What’s not to like about hydro-power?
If all those who are nervous of nuclear and all those who are unenthusiastic about windfarms were to mobilise in support of initiatives to encourage hydro-electric power, we might have the chance of achieving a renewable energy strategy that is both economically viable and environmentally acceptable.
The argument I’m making isn’t specifically one of wind vs nuclear, but in favour of renewable energy sources in general – wind, hydro, solar, tidal, and wave.
Each comes with their own set of limitations and criticisms, even hydro (habit destruction, methane emissions, silting and limited longevity) but together as a basket of energy sources offer a far more welcome alternative to the triumvirate of nuclear, coal, and gas.
I don’t think there is a single magic bullet technology among renewables, but Scotland is well-placed to take advantage of many of them.
Sorry to be boring Brian T, but once again it all comes down to being able to find the best quality literature with which to come to an informed decision. I have said it before; we are all consuming so much and expecting to use as much water and power as we want when we want. No one wants to turn the clock back to the days of widespread deprivation (relative) and poorer standards of public health, so we need an objective assessment of both the economic and environmental costs / benefits of energy production. With an economic system based on consumption and in some instances, exploitation, then finding the answers and solutions is not going to be easy.
Free debate is essential to assist us in making an informed choice.
As Graisg says “For or against we should all be worried about efforts to silence democratically elected Councillors. Highland Council or Highland Politburo?”
I agree totally, our elected members must be free to air their views and stand up for the communities who elected them.
An interesting report from the Inverness Courier today, suggesting that there are existing prohibitions against building on the land ear-marked for the Inverness wind farm:
http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/12017/Millionairess_questions_council_policy.html
Not wind farms but back to other planning issues, a quick heads up about a Planning Application for Croy. As usual APT have the eye on the ball:
http://actionforplanningtransparency.blogspot.com/2010/04/croy-village-developments.html