Wind turbine research a lot of hot air

I AGREE with the headline on Brigitte Schorn’s letter, which states that the “Truth about wind turbines will out” (Irish Examiner, January 11).

Unfortunately, I disagree with practically every other point she has to make, on those same grounds of truth.

To describe the German wind turbine industry as a “failure” is breath-taking in its audacity.

An industry which generated practically no power as late as 1998 and is now generating enough to power the electricity needs of almost four million people is, in fact, a rapidly growing and successful one.

With the rapid improvement in wind technology, the costs have fallen significantly over the past 10 years and are projected to continue to fall, while the turbines themselves become more efficient.

As for the “irreparable” damage to the environment and to the quality of people’s lives, I fear these are mostly a construct of Ms Schorn’s imagination.

Unlike conventional power plants, they emit no pollutants. Unlike nuclear power plants, they generate no radioactive waste.

Is Ms Schorn proposing, in her fight against turbines, that we go nuclear?

Throughout her letter, Ms Schorn makes many vague references to the findings of “research”, which includes her own.

Unfortunately, Ms Schorn’s “research” would not stand up to the least degree of scientific scrutiny, because it consists of the distribution of a questionnaire in which the questions are misleading and loaded against the turbine industry.

I know because I received one of them and replied to it.

Regarding the “results” of these questionnaires, we have no idea of how they are tabulated or cross-referenced.

Ms Schorn decries the misinformed. She would do well to refrain from adding to their numbers.

James McGrath

Birchgrove

Hollyford

Co Tipperary