National Trust, Renewables and Wind turbines.
Letter from a CEL member John Anderson (Yorkshire) to the National Trust:
The Director-General
The National Trust
Heelis
Kemble Drive
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN2 2NA
25.10.13
Dear Helen Ghosh
REDUCING RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS
I applaud the policy of the National Trust in aiming to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. I have noticed, for example, the instructions on how to use public transport and encouragement in the use of bicycles. The National Trust is showing vital leadership in saving our heritage and countryside “for ever”.
I am sad that the Trust is falling behind in meeting its targets for replacing its use of fossil fuels. Unless it does so, the fuel costs of the Trust will escalate as these fuels become more expensive before declining to exhaustion. Moreover the imperatives of climate change are clear: unless we reduce our carbon dioxide emissions, the planet will continue to warm, with disastrous consequences.
A major way to reduce carbon emissions is to produce and use renewable energy. I am therefore amazed that you have reportedly said that onshore wind turbines would not be acceptable on National Trust properties and that you were opposed to offshore wind turbines visible from NT land. A wind turbine emits in life-cycle emissions per kWh between 8 and 20 g of CO2 equivalent compared with 65 g for nuclear power and 540 g for conventional power stations. The cost of a megawatt hour of electricity generated by onshore wind turbines is likely to be £86 in 2017 according to the government; this is very nearly the same as that for combined cycle gas turbines and the gap is closing all the time. Wind turbines are by far the most effective current technology in Britain for generating renewable energy on a large scale. I had hoped that the National Trust would lead us in seeing wind turbines as dancing angels, not “monstrosities”. Glyndebourne sees their beauty: it has a large turbine at its heart.
I do not wish to see a wind turbine on the top of Scafell Pike. But a ring of turbines around the Lake District, for example, on or near NT properties would announce to the nation that you are serious in wanting to support renewable energy in the interests of our future.
Please would you set up a working group in the National Trust to consider in depth a policy on wind turbines? I do not wish to see the English prejudice against them make impossible the achievement of your acclaimed policy of reducing fossil fuel usage.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely
John D Anderson. MA. FRSA.
Life Member of National Trust
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Comments on "National Trust, Renewables and Wind turbines."
John Murray:
Wind power, on its own, cannot supply all our needs for electricity, but every little helps, as they say. However, as long as people want and use washing machines, freezers, dishwashers, etc, we will need more than wind; more than tidal barriers (NT approved?) or acres of solar PV panels. What is it to be? I cannot see an alternative to nuclear, and will no doubt be shot down for saying it, but it is less polluting than coal-burning for power generation. Fracking will not last for ever, nor will coal come to that, nor gas. My grand-children (or great grandchildren) are going to have some tough decisions to make. Meanwhile, renewables can help, but not take over. I've even got solar panels (water) myself.Every little really does help.
anthony roper:
Wind, wave, solar, tidal are all good ways to produce electricity. I find peoples resistance to wind amazing. Our countryside was very industrialised in past times and the little I learn from history shows what it was like. Wind turbines are graceful, each revolution producing electricity. As a society we seem to tolerate roads congested with cars, together with the associated air pollution, mobile phone towers, aeroplanes flying overhead. I agree with John Anderson we should at least consider wind turbines. Other forms of electrical power stations are littered around our beautiful countryside and the pollution caused by these, particularly nuclear, will not be something future generations will thank us for.
Sophie Franklin:
I wish to endorse the by John Anderson; wind turbines are a much better way to produce electricity than fracking or nuclear and it would be a really good message if the National Trust were to produce its own electricity with wind-turbines on its properties and allowing them in the country side around.Sophie Franklin Cheltenham
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