I read with some concern that only 35 people attended the meeting concerning the Green Amp wind turbine proposals (Wind power may be coming to Cotswolds, October 5).
On previous form, this is a Trojan Horse attack, to be followed by the 'real thing'. It needs vigilance now. The turbines proposed are a few tiny ones just 56 metres (184 feet) in total height. Compare this with recent proposals for 145 m (476 ft) tall turbines on the fringe of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park - considerably taller than Salisbury Cathedral spire!
Once the small machines are installed, the argument for more turbines will be that landscape is already spoiled. However, lest I be branded a 'picture-postcard NIMBY' I hasten to say that my objection is based on more serious considerations.
Government's own figure for saving of CO2 emission by renewable power generation, mainly wind, is just 9.2 million tonnes per year by 2010. That amount is less than the emission from a single middle sized coal-fired power station, and more tellingly, it is less than four ten-thousandths (0.0004) of global total CO2 emission and stands no chance of altering atmospheric CO2 concentration, still less deflecting climate change.
Into the bad bargain, we all pay for wind electricity through the increased electricity bills which support the Renewables Obligation and subsidise wind electricity to such a huge extent that it has been criticised by the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee. The latter committee has indeed questioned the democracy of forcing windpower onto the public without their consent.
Dr JOHN ETHERINGTON, Llanhowell, Pembrokeshire.
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