Wind turbines a welcome alternative as part of the flight from fossil fuels
However, the examples he chooses actually back up Mr Cowhig’s assertion. In his reference to the German wind turbine industry, Dr Etchingham says the turbines “must be supplemented by fossil fuels”.
This does not contradict Mr Cowhig’s statement, but agrees with it. He also claims, wrongly, that the turbines “only benefit investors and industry-friendly politicians”. I would respectfully suggest that even Dr Etchingham benefits from the German turbines, as they generate electricity without the emission of carbon dioxide which is commonly held to add to global warming. He claims that 6,000 Danish turbines did not lead to the closure of a single conventional power plant. This assertion neither proves nor disproves anything.
With the demand for electricity expanding over time, turbines would have prevented the necessity of building additional conventional power plants.
Dr Etchingham goes on to decry the damage turbines have done supposedly to the environment, referring to a “Norwegian study”.
Almost every human activity can potentially damage the environment. The question is whether these turbines do less damage than nuclear or conventionally-powered plants. The answer is obvious. When Mr Cowhig makes the commonsense observation that the Government should be proactive in promoting wind energy, Dr Etchingham wrongly accuses him of “giving the game away”, saying this would be unnecessary if wind turbines were economic. The Government has a necessary role to play in such a huge area of national importance, if only to make up for years of neglect.
Contrary to Dr Etchingham’s assertion, communities across Ireland welcome wind turbines as a source of income and future power.
As fossil fuels inevitably increase in price due to ever increasing demand relative to increased scarcity, even Dr Etchingham will welcome them.
James McGrath
Birchgrove
Hollyford
Co Tipperary
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