Wind power has CO2 debt – not savings

JUST before Christmas I could not believe the "front" of a wind farm supporter whose letter condemned an objector for using misleading statistics when arguing against wind farms.

The wind industry is founded on highly-spun, misleading statistics.

For example the "number of homes" figures developers love conveniently omit to mention that homes account for only 29 per cent of electricity use.

Until the Advertising Standards Agency was persuaded that it was not possible to selectively replace electricity that would have been generated in a coal-fired power station, developers claimed carbon offsets double what is now allowed.

But because of the intermittent, highly variable nature of the electricity produced by wind farms, high carbon costs are incurred in keeping the grid stable. Fossil-fuelled power stations have to be turned up and down rapidly which, a retired power engineer told me, "is like driving a steam train around the M25 in rush hour". These costs are never accounted for.

Developers also conveniently do not deduct the carbon cost of building wind farms from their claimed carbon savings. Turbines are carbon intensive to produce and deliver, and each has to stand on a highly carbon intensive reinforced concrete base. Thousands of tonnes of crushed stone are used to make tracks to link them together and pads for cranes to erect them.

Even if you accept the unrealistically high carbon offsets developers are allowed to use, it can take years before this carbon debt is repaid.

Data from countries that have adopted wind farms on a large scale seem to show there is little if any net carbon saving from wind farms and, rather than increasing energy security, they increase the need to import gas – the least secure fossil fuel.

Hopefully a new government will not continue to dismiss inconvenient data as the present one has done. The great wind farm scam will then be exposed and our countryside will no longer have to live with the threat of these white elephants destroying the best of Britain.

Brian Skittrall

Bozeat, Northamptonshire

Aid for pensioners

MICHAEL Thompson does a disservice to Britain's pensioners and those with disabilities by suggesting the Government has not done enough for those receiving pensions and similar welfare payments ("Compare MPs' expenses with pension pittance", December 22).

I have to tell him that Labour's pension credits, the minimum wage, the winter fuel allowance, free bus travel, free eye tests and massive investment in the NHS have fundamentally improved the lot of the most deserving.

He should direct his fire at the Conservatives, who will cut vital public services to the bone (already happening in Devon and Cornwall) and award tax cuts to the richest 3,000 private estates in Britain.

The Tories are pledged to "cut and burn" pension credits, free bus travel, the winter fuel allowances, and home help – just take a look at Tory councils in the Westcountry. All current cuts are in services for the elderly and young people.

So, Mr Thompson, get your facts right; it's the Conservatives who will make pensioners poorer, colder and stuck in their homes. David Cameron is the same as Thatcher – tax the less well off and give the proceeds to the Tories' supporters, the rich.

Dr David Pedrick-Friend

Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Torbay Paignton

Considerate cadets

BEING ex-RAF, it was lovely to see quite a few Air Training Corps cadets in our local Morrison's over Christmas, packing bags for customers. I applaud them – they deserved the donations to their cause.

Far too many of today's children completely lack discipline, having been brought up to believe the world revolves around them. Sadly, their self-centred approach to life is reinforced by stupid human rights legislation, and the likelihood of them ever considering others is virtually nil.

Barry Thomas

Redruth

Tough get going

THE WMN should not publish letters like the January 2 one about gritting from George Wass. "This is an absolute outrage," he says. When the going gets tough the tough get going, should be his motto, not complaining left right and centre.

Us oldies have known seriously difficult circumstances many times, like baling milk out into an emergency fibreglass tank on a trailer and taking it to a collection point to a deadline.

My husband had permission to drive across Bigbury golf course because the lane was blocked with snowdrifts. I had to see to everything else; animals do not understand, and their routine comes first.

Living in the country makes you practical, resourceful and resolute; do not expect others to look after you – help others less able and stop whingeing.

Pam Hunt

Kingsteignton

Thank you, gritters

THANK you to all the council staff who have been out gritting roads and the unseen people at depots who load the gritters, manage their stocks of salt, work out where and when to grit etc.

People have been working overnight during the festive season, so must have had to miss some of the parties and other fun. Well done, and thank you.

Theo Hopkins

Lifton