THE CASE AGAINST WIND FARMS - IN A NUTSHELL
SCOTLAND NEEDS NO EXTRA CAPACITY
generating more electricity than it needs and exporting continuously to England and Wales (15% to 20% of output). Of this generation 18% of its electricity is already from hydro-power - a renewable source.WIND FARMS DO NOT GUARANTEE SUPPLIES
This wind farm would not, and could not, generate electricity all the time. In both calm conditions and in high winds it would be shut down.NO LOCAL BENEFIT
This wind farm would provide neither cheap electricity for local customers nor a significant number of jobs for local people.INSIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY
The proposed wind farm would produce a tiny amount of electricity - the same amount IN A YEAR that Peterhead power station produces in 3 ½ DAYS.NEGLIGIBLE REDUCTION OF POLLUTION
We are asked to accept windmills for the sake of the planet. RES claim 31,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions will be saved by building a wind power station. Putting this figure into context; from figures issued by Friends of the Earth the emissions saving claimed for the whole wind power station is less than the emissions of ONE jet airliner. But can 31,600 tonnes even be "saved"? - only if you can turn down the output of a COAL-fired power station. Electricity distribution problems between here and the only coal powered stations in Scotland mean that the power station most likely to be affected is Peterhead which is not coal powered. This has just had a refurbishment to reduce emissions, and emits only a fraction of the emissions of some coal powered stations. While RES may have an agreement requiring the electricity companies to buy electricity from wind power schemes the reality is that probably no power station will be 'turned down' and we will just have more electricity generation.
Were this extra electricity required, and in the absence of the Meikle Carewe wind power
facility, generated by another power station then this is most likely
to be a combined cycle gas turbine power station which would emit a fraction of
emmissions quoted by RES as a "saving" attributable to their scheme.
but we will destroy our local environment
SUMMARY
To generate a TINY amount of electricity, which is SURPLUS to Scottish requirements anyway and which reduces industrial emissions by A NEGLIGIBLE AMOUNT we are being asked to have FOURTEEN 256ft STRUCTURES which would turn over a mile and a half of pleasant heather covered skyline into an industrial landscape panorama visible from well over 11 miles away (and this is without taking any account of the noise disturbance created, the unanswered safety concerns or effect on house values).
Produced by : North Kincardine Rural Community Council and Meikle Carewe Windfarm Action Group
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