Letters / A daring scheme?
Andrew, first of all thank you very much for your reply (Another Darien scheme? SN, 4 May 2012).
I am a supporter of the wind farm which gives us the interconnector.
Following on from my first question which you clearly answered, what does Sustainable Shetland now propose to do since the Scottish government gave the go ahead for the project?
Do you try to stop the charitable trust’s involvement in VE and force them to sell their stake; then watch the windmills be built completely by the private sector or do you try to take the whole project to court and waste a horrific amount of tax payers’ money? (I.e.: the Aberdeen city bypass road case).
Following on from your answer to question 2 – How do you propose to support the renewable projects that you have listed without the interconnector?
Without VE we do not have a project that justifies a connection to the mainland, without the connection we do not have the capacity for any major type of renewable project, i.e. wave power generation.
I would also like to dig a little deeper into the issue of people’s health which keeps on being brought up. I for one think this is a very import aspect to any project and it’s good that you are campaigning for it, but I would like to know Sustain Shetlands views on Total’s new gas plant and what impact they feel this is having on people’s health?
We are to gain a few more flare stacks to burn off excess gas during process and pressure control and we are to gain four new gas burning turbines for power generation, all of these add to our already extremely high carbon foot print, which per head of population puts us very near the top of Europe’s list of polluters.
I would like to point out the moor that has been removed and stock piled and the 400,000 ton of rock that has been trucked from Sullom and Staney hill quarries.
Following on from your question 3 answer – Is it not true that any business which requires a loan from the banking sector has to produce a business plan and a forecast of output and projected profits?
Now whether it is VE or a small shop on Commercial Street they must present this for scrutiny by the banks before they receive money and at no point are they going to walk in and present figures that are negative.
The figures have been taken from the five windmills currently online, i.e the time they have been online, the winds that they have seen and the winds speeds from their test masts.
The five windmills have been excellent testers and have given some invaluable information which prevents this project from being built completely blind.
Spain have said they will not support any “NEW” projects, this should not be confused with the already existing projects. I can fully understand this due to their current financial state.
If Denmark reduces then stop their subsidies to their onshore wind farms then they will simple wean out the ones who cannot make a profit.
The difference between the VE project and all the other wind farms which have been built around Britain is, we have wind, a constant supply of wind and a resource that has massive potential to harvest.
I fully agree that there have been projects built around Britain that only survive on subsidies, the Thames estuary being a excellent example of this, but as the government reduce subsidies then this will also wean out the none profitable farms.
I totally agree with you that there are risks involved, but what project doesn’t have risks?
As for your point about the Darien scheme, I do understand the comparison that you are trying to make i.e. the financial disaster, but if the two projects were to unfold like for like, then we would have to see the government advice against the project, SSE remove its backing on this basis, the charitable trust to go it alone and then Shetland to see no wind for two years and finally all the windmills fall down due to a attack of a rare Spanish metal corrosion.
Best regards
Craig Johnson
Lochend
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
