Divide & rule - Luing & Kilmelford welcome Clachan turbines

[NickB]

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The draft minutes of the May meeting of Luing Community Council show that their only concern was whether to buy a turbine themselves or accept the 'donation' from Mr. Young. Of course, it is unlikely that the turbines at Clachan will have much impact on the citzens of Luing, and I doubt if they give a fig for the environmental benefits or otherwise of windpower - they just want the money thank you very much.,

Meanwhile at the recent meeting of Kilninver and Kilmelford Community Council (reported in today's Oban Times) the main concern was the need to set up a trust fund to manage the expected 'windfall". Again, no discussion apparently of the merits or otherwise of the scheme.

A clear case of divide and rule?

[Minimum]

I agree. So long as they're not in their backyards, money speaks much louder than wind turbines! I find it all very sad.

[longshanks]

fair enough

[MonaLott]

As the best solutions generally involve comprimise, perhaps the most we on Seil can do is try to ensure that the proposed turbines are located at the other end of the owner's land, towering over Kilninver rather than Clachan Bridge?

[Pentlandpirate]

No compromise. Do what the French would do. Blockade the Luing ferry.

[Husker Doo]

The Luing folk already have turbines and being an island understand that a windfall however small can come in useful.
Perhaps having a smaller population with a higher percentage of islanders indigenous to luing and are therefor sympathetic towards progress,some of them may even remember the end of the slate industry and have an understanding of what it takes to keep island communities going

[Minimum]

How on earth does a wind turbine connected to the uninsulated hall equate to keeping the island going? Especially when the majority of islanders have voted against it!

[Herby Dice]

For the people of Luing, they are being offered money with no downside as I understand it - they would not have these mostrosities looming over them, they would not I think be visible from the populated areas of Luing at least. At worst they might have to avert their gaze for a few moments as they hurtle towards Cuan for the ferry. Can we blame them? Let's be honest here, how many of us would be objecting if the turbines were going to be located at Toberonochy or indeed Kilmelford but we on Seil were being offered cash to give it the nod?

[Husker Doo]

Minimum i am not talking about Easdale Island.
Though i think change should not be forced on people, if it is not wanted by the majority then it shouldnt happen although i am for windfarming on principle
I along with a lot of Seilers would be happy to see Turbines on the island you cannot be taken seriously if you believe in green energy but you werent prepeared to have a turbine behind your house.
Cambell of Stronggorms land would be agreat area with the winds that sweep up from Luing and beyond,or the high spine of hills that run from Dunearn northwards on the western side of the island.

[Seil Blubber]

you cannot be taken seriously if you believe in green energy but you werent prepeared to have a turbine behind your house.

Many who are in favour of green energy seem to question whether wind turbines are an efficient way provide it.

[Husker Doo]

So give me an example of green energy that would be truly efficient.

[MonaLott]

Nothing can be "greener" than nuclear. Next-to-no-carbon emissions and used in nature throughout the universe. And "proper" energy, i.e. big time and constant. What on earth has gone so daftly wrong that we are building stupid feeble ugly windmills in places of beauty? Sigh....

[NickB]

Nothing can be "greener" than nuclear. Next-to-no-carbon emissions and used in nature throughout the universe. And "proper" energy, i.e. big time and constant. What on earth has gone so daftly wrong that we are building stupid feeble ugly windmills in places of beauty? Sigh....

Can't believe I am agreeing with Mona but . . . if there really is a serious energy gap looming then nukes are probably the best immediate solution. There are serious issues with nuclear power, such as the problems with radioactive waste, pollution and the cost - but they are not as serious as a 6°C change in the climate.

What we should be working on is developing thorium accelerated reactors - these are much more efficent, can be built on a small scale and are much safer than conventional nukes. (Plenty of info on the concept to be had by googling if you are interested).

And Husker - tidal turbines have a predictable output and can even be used for some of our base load generation. Sadly the technology has been neglected because of the lucrative 'rush to wind'.

- W

[MonaLott]

Even with all the subsidies, these wind turbine companies still can't hack it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-s ... s-11626680
The whole thing's a damaging racket and a precarious house of cards. A sad joke at our expense.

[Pentlandpirate]

Skykon...are they so arrogant about ruining our landscape and swallowing up all our subsidies that they are brash enough to make their company name suggest they know the current rush for windpower is all a con?

[Husker Doo]

I Would not call nuclear, green energy and i can`t believe you`d hate turbines so much that you would recommend it.
Willie Johnston`s plan was to have Hydro schemes all across Scotland its a pity it wasn't completed,perhaps a new run of larger reservoirs{ lets face it we have plenty of water and loads of wind}would fill an energy hole but it wouldn't shut you lot up.Lets face it,it wouldn't matter how efficient it was if its going to be in your back yard you`d still object.

[MonaLott]

Eh? What does "green energy" mean exactly if not the most abundant and powerful natural source of energy in the universe? Compared to which, wind energy is, as they say, like peeing into a hurricane!

[NickB]

I Would not call nuclear, green energy and i can`t believe you`d hate turbines so much that you would recommend it.
Willie Johnston`s plan was to have Hydro schemes all across Scotland its a pity it wasn't completed,perhaps a new run of larger reservoirs{ lets face it we have plenty of water and loads of wind}would fill an energy hole but it wouldn't shut you lot up.Lets face it,it wouldn't matter how efficient it was if its going to be in your back yard you`d still object.

Thorium fuelled reactors are pretty green if you take a look at the concept.

Re. your continuing lambasting of concerned Seilachans as NIMBYs - you are of course echoing Ed Milliband's eco-fascist pronouncement when he was Minister for the Environment: "Opposition to windfarms should be as unacceptable as failing to wear a seatbelt."

I prefer James Lovelock's comment: "Let us be proud to be Nimbys: our backyard is the countryside and that is the face of Gaia"

[Pentlandpirate]

It's the NIMBY's who protect the Earth. Label me a NIMBY if you like and I'll be proud to wear the badge.

Get everyone to save 10% energy (we could all do it relatively easily) and there wouldn't be an energy gap. To produce more energy, from say wind, so that the extra energy can be consumed is not ' green'. It is just wasteful

[Seventhseil]

So what you are saying is that if mr young had put in a planning aplication for a nuclear power station you wouldn't object?........ or is all this objecting a cover for house price panic......