Don’t throw caution to wind on turbine debate

The need to reduce CO2 is accepted by the majority of climate scientists and must be addressed by our leaders.

The discussion on wind farms and pylons is in danger of narrowing to location, with an assumption that this infrastructure is necessary. There is compelling evidence that wind energy is incapable of delivering meaningful CO2 reductions and that it, and its grid development, could be hugely expensive and very damaging to our environment.

Government action must be supported by evidence. The Government is failing to pursue other solutions, such as tackling demand side-usage and reducing waste, which have been proven to reduce CO2 emissions.

The view that wind is a solution must be robustly challenged to discourage our politicians from supporting something that is populist but ineffective, instead of making hard decisions.

Few politicians have questioned Eirgrid’s need to spend €3.2bn on the grid, or even the linkages between wind power and the grid. The failure to ask these questions, and Government’s unwavering support for wind energy, without even a rudimentary cost-benefit analysis (CBA), is alarming.

We need politicians to show leadership and avoid group-think. If not, we may end up with what Colm McCarthy described as a “NAMA for wind turbines”.

Henry Fingleton

Wind Aware Ireland

Portlaoise

Co Laois