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Islands debate future of renewable energy



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Published Date: 17 March 2008
By JOHN ROSS
A MAJOR conference on renewable energy opens in Stornoway today while the Western Isles wait for news on whether Lewis is to host Europe's largest wind farm.
The event is being held by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Western Isles Council, which has backed Lewis Wind Power's bid for a 176-turbine development.

The Scottish Government has said it is "minded to refuse" the project but has yet to make a fin
al decision.

Jim Mather, the minister for enterprise, energy and tourism, will address the conference but he is not expected to announce a decision on the wind farm.

The council says the £500 million development would create hundreds of jobs during construction as well as generating millions of pounds in community benefit.

However, the plans have attracted more than 10,000 objections and been attacked by conservation bodies including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which will also address the conference.

Nigel Scott, the council's spokesman, said the event aimed to bring together various bodies involved in the renewable energy debate.

He said: "Our vision for the islands is not about a couple of wind farms, but about renewable energy in the round – production, transmission, storage and all aspects of research and development.

"We have the best renewable energy resources in Europe and some of the best in the world and it would be ironic if that was not to be used to develop not only the local economy but the economy of Scotland. It would be tragic if that was wasted."

One campaign group, Moorlands Without Turbines, has already pulled out of the conference in protest at the proposals.





The full article contains 279 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

Guga II,

Rockall 17/03/2008 03:41:23
"The event is being held by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Western Isles Council, which has backed Lewis Wind Power's bid for a 176-turbine development."

The Comhairle may well have backed this development, but this is despite the fact that a large majority of the islanders do not want these 487 foot high turbines spread out over the island, despoiling the landscape.

The Comhairle should remember that they were elected to represent the people. They do NOT know better than the people; and their arrogant attitude will ensure that they will not be in these overpaid positions for too long. If these monstrosities are built, and blight the landscape, the church will not be able to protect these undemocratic numpties for long.

It would be interesting to know what has brought about this arrogant and overbearing attitude of the Comhairle. Are any of them getting kickbacks from the developers?

These huge and unsightly turbines will not benefit the islanders in any way. All the power will be sent to England; for the profit of the developers, not the islanders. There will be no cheaper electricity for anyone, nor will it stop the continuing power failures that inflict the island on a regular basis.
2

Rulesbutnotrulers,

Federation, not separation 17/03/2008 06:23:17
I bet if the islanders were offered half-price electricity they would welcome these turbines. That would also attract businesses. The scenery (which is beautiful only if you like peat bogs) would then take a back seat.
3

nabodican,

Rural Scotland 17/03/2008 07:08:25
#2 What a stupid and irrelevant comment.

Guga is correct, the Western Isle councillors are already in the pocket of the wind industry and this conference is only being held as a whitewash job.
As for peat bogs, can I suggest you read an SNH publication called "Bogs : The Ecology, Classification and Conservation of Ombrotrophic Mires"
You may find it rather enlightening even although SNH are a bunch of numpties on other matters.
4

Guga II,

Rockall 17/03/2008 07:22:47
#4 You also are talking rubbish.

The power will be sent to England, not Scotland, and for the profit of an English company. It will not benefit the islanders in any way. If the English need more power, there is nothing to stop them (other than the Nimbys like yourself) building turbines in London, or the South Downs, or right down the Pennines. I'm sure that 487 foot high turbines will attract a lot of tourists to London, to see them in operation.

Incidentally, what subsidies are you raving about? Is that the subsidies that result in us paying £1-20 per litre for fuel?
5

Unimpressed one,

17/03/2008 07:58:46
#4, "These turbines are not cast in stone, and can be removed when alternative sources are developed."

Not cast in stone, only concrete. Alternative sources are available in the form of coal, oil gas and nuclear. Idiot.
6

Kenny A,

17/03/2008 08:32:01
2 Braindead

4 Sorry incorrect, it would severly hamper tourisim, it is growing at about 7% at present. Build these windfarms where proposed and thats that gone. With the RET coming in tourisim will increse as presently it is seriously costly to get to Lewis.

The Islanders do in general not want these things mainly because there is little obvious benefit and some longterm serious drawbacks.

The council are so pro windfarm it is unreal.

About time tidal and wave energy was looked at in more detail. Tide is predictable at least.

7

Isonomia,

Lenzie 17/03/2008 08:35:57
It is a pity we are thinking of putting windmills on these ruggedly beautiful islands just at a time that global warming has clearly stopped. Since 1998 global temperatures have been cooling and January was the lowest temperature for 14 years and the low February temperature just confirms this.

Ironically, we now have proof that global warming is a myth from the very centre of the evangelical community that spreads this myth: the UK Met Office. The UK met office make predictions on global temperature and consistently these temperatures are wrong. Using the Met Office's own statistics this result is extremely improbable unless the forecasting model is wrong - that is, the forecast model is wrong because it has a bias suggesting warming which is provably absent.

see: http://www.lenzie.org.uk/scam.php
8

Rulesbutnotrulers,

Federation, not separation 17/03/2008 09:05:30
Windfarms are nasty things, but where's the evidence they hamper tourism? Kintyre tourism seems to be thriving. In fact you're hard pushed to find its windfarms.

Submarine turbines are the real answer, of course, so sink these mills below the waves.
9

Kenny A,

17/03/2008 09:17:42
9 Better comment

Totaly agree on the submarine turbines it is the way ahead and Arnish could build them, the way of the future without doubt.

The tourisim one, from the Islands and go there often. Talk to the tourists and the ones I have met are fairly to the point. Come to the Islands mainly for the views, and to get away from it all type thing. The Islands are fairly unspoilt. They are clear on the fact that if these windfarms go ahead they will not return.

Windfarm tourisim has been tried, it dont work.

Was initialy pro windfarm untill I found out what exactly was planned. Now totaly against the present proposals. Unlike the windfarms you mentioned in Kintyre, the ones planned for Lewis would be seen from just about everywhere.

If you want examples, visit the Moorlands without Turbines site.

Cheers
10

Isonomia,

Lenzie 17/03/2008 09:47:09
I've seen the windmill industrial parks in Denmark half the size of those in Lewis and I know what they look like. I'm one of those tourists who visit, the Hebridies, Orkney Shetland and I know I go there to get away from a landscape littered with manmade things.

And I've been to Lewis and walked around the windfarms, I've seen the eagles flying, and the stags on the moor, and I've met the people who will be loosing their jobs.

I could see the rational for virtually wiping out the tourist industry on Lewis when global warming was a real threat, but now global temperatures are decreasing, we should apply the "precautionary approach" and not do lasting damage to Lewis.

Afterall we can put up the windmills in a few years IF warming returned, but I doubt you can replace all the people who will leave Lewis so easily!
11

Galaman,

Galashiels 17/03/2008 10:21:48
#2, windfarm electricity should jolly well just be half-price, since it is only intermittent and requires constant back-up.
12

Tweedmouth,

Coldstream 17/03/2008 10:28:15
"The council says the £500 million development would create hundreds of jobs during construction as well as generating millions of pounds in community benefit."

JOBS?? The turbines themselves will not be designed or built in the Western Isles - far more likely they will come from Denmark by sea. The holes will be dug by a Scottish contractor with some fair sized machinery - probably from the mainland. The gravel and cement for each 1000 tonne concrete base will no no doubt come from the mainland. They guys who dig the holes will be experts from Denmark or Glasgow. No doubt a few local fencing contractors will find work and the B&Bs and pubs will get some extra business. But as for 'jobs' - I drive past Soutra windfarm regularly and I've never seen a human being anywhere near those turbines. It's a scam - paid for 100% by a levy on YOUR electricity bills - any developer gets 100% of the cost of the scheme from the British and EU energy industry levy. And each turbine is only effective for 27% of the time. Its a scam.
13

danielrober,

17/03/2008 11:53:01
If with intend to build a 'fast network of trains' in the UK/Scotland economy (TGV, Hover train, magnetic trains or even faster tilt trains etc), we need routes. Well the first completed route MUST be London to Edinburgh. There is a huge list of reasons economic, culture and actually engineering. However will it be a WEST coast route or an EAST coast route. It’s been 40 years since the Beeching report and we are still arguing over this issue. Well that’s because it’s a REAL argument.

It’s the same with Wind Turbine, its not an easy question. Everyone has a valid point of view

Locals will be living with these machines, to them its not just about global warming.

Engineers need production scale.

Politicians needs PR.

SO LETS compromise.

Stage 1, Split the development into blocks based on the North Sea model, released over a numbers of years. This prevents any one company conducting a land grab.

Stage 2, Make the Western Isles the first place in Europe to generate all its electricity from renewable power. This can be done with only a few of these super WT. This would be a huge technological success for the Isles, Scotland, the UK and the EU.

Stage 3, If stage 2 is successful and more WT are needed, slowly expand transmission capabilities. It is better to have 5 small sized cable rather than one huge macho man cable. This is a security of supplier capability issue.

Stage 4, If the first cable backed up by the second set of WT is successful move on to develop another block.

Stage 5, Slow down planning, forcing trans-European and international engineering companies to employ locals. The faster this project happens the less economic benefit the isles will gain.

The advantages of this type of staged scheme is that wind rescues are developed at a reasonable and economic pace. It also puts the power into the hands of the community that lives there, the islanders.

These are a nice set of islands, that so far I’ve never visited, why? Becau
14

danielrober,

17/03/2008 11:54:00
# 14 cont

These are a nice set of islands, that so far I’ve never visited, why? Because its expensive. What's wrong with just stimulating the islands economy, with renewable. All the islanders I’ve met are very open, liberal and well educated. Lets back up this community, not ask it to make sacrifices for the rest of us.

Good luck, ALL.
15

Neil,

Glasgow 17/03/2008 11:59:48
Since #2 Rules has repeatedly rejected half price electricity on this site, because it would be nuclear, his faith that the people of Lewis are more sensible is touching.

On the other hand, since windmill electricity is twice the price of conventional power & intermittent, there is no economic justification for what would merely be an extra subsidy for Lewis on top of the 31 billion Scotland already subsidises windmills by.
16

danielrober,

17/03/2008 12:07:58
To the engineering companies I would say this. Some of you know who i am and i'm no threat to you guys, so relax.

SO look at these islands as a local European site capable of been developed at a reasonable pace and price. The flights to the island are reasonable and can be claimed back against tax. If you guys are serious about the WT business then you need to improve your technology. Well you'll never find a better site than this. So take it slowly, take it easily and apreaciate this locations benefit to the Engineering sector.

If you don't imporve your technology you have 10 years before most WT production will be transplanted out of Europe (not by me) and you'll have lost some very nice jobs.

Who knows you might also hurt one of the few real wilderneses left in Europe (we don't have many left).

Good luck, ALL.
17

Calum Crubag,

17/03/2008 12:53:20
Rulersnotsense needs to leave his computer and get out more. Na h-Eileanan Siar has some of the best scenery in Europe, not just Scotland.

Seems sensible though that more small scale windfarms should be built with cheaper power for the locals.
18

Geoff,

sa 17/03/2008 14:32:47
8 Isonomia-global warming has clearly stopped. You are obviously also a member of the flat earth society!
19

Geoff,

sa 17/03/2008 14:37:48
14 and 15 danielrober-great posts. We have to pursue renewable energy NOW to deal with the clear and immediate threat of global warming. I am an environmentalist and am thus ambivalent about wind farms from an aesthetic point of view but on a balance of plusses and minuses I would support such a scheme. Also those turbines have a crtain grace-after all the wind power of old-Dutch windmills were an iconic and beautiful addition to the dutch landscape.
20

Sgurr,

17/03/2008 14:49:28
4.2 But Lo! Unto them, the wind did blow and the House stood firm, and they did spake, "what a crap idea!" and they agreed by consensus: it was Good News!

4.3 But, ye, the people did agree, and the evil of change was banished from these islands, along with development, as it tis an evil. Except for the mobile M&S, which is quite good.
21

Saoghal Beag,

17/03/2008 16:23:58
Galaman and Neil, the most unreliable source of energy in Scotland last year was Nuclear, 28% of capacity, pretty poor show since it is not dependednt on wind, rain or tide.
22

nabodican,

Rural Scotland 17/03/2008 17:29:26
#19 & 20 Geoff.
Keep taking the drugs that make you think the globe is still warming. However you had better get some new ones if you think that wind turbines will have any positive effect on the climate. In fact I would put it to you that they do the exact opposite.
I can only conclude that you are anything but an environmetalist if you wish to see the Scottish landscape and its wildlife ravaged by these turbines.
23

Saoghal Beag,

17/03/2008 17:41:11
24 nabodican, unfortunately nuclear is also in carbon deficet. uranium, though a small portion of the cost has gone from £7 to £100 in the past few years making it commercially viable to dig holes into the side of the great canyon. all options carry difficult choices.
24

Harbinger,

Land of my turbines 18/03/2008 07:58:28
There has not been global warming, there has been a warmer cycle, before which, (in the 60's and 70's), there was a colder cycle, before which in the 30's there was a warmer cycle. Before which, until it started to improve from about 1850, there was a period of about 500 years of dire cold, the Little Ice Age.

Advancing glaciers wiped out whole villages in the Alps and now they complain about the skiing, although this last winter has seen more snow the world over than for many decades. At the moment we seem to be entering another cooling cycle.

Look at the history books not the climate models.

Long term extrapolation from short term data is the basis of all the warming scares.

 

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