Sir, - In his reply to my recent article on wind farms, Minister Joe Jacob seems to have missed my drift! The introduction to my article clearly highlights the central issue of my argument, i.e. "wind farms have no future as serious generators of power."
The fundamental difference between Mr Jacob's article and mine is that, whilst I wrote to stimulate more serious public reflection about our ecological and fiscal future, with relation to future energy strategies, Mr Jacob talks mainly about the "story so-far", in other countries! After the 15-year period of European wind farm development he referred to, that "experiment" is going nowhere!
New sides to the energy story are out, new lessons have been learned, and exciting new technological advances have been made. Dramatic things are happening and Mr Jacob is not being properly informed. The public are hardly being informed at all. So what else can he do but follow what Europe has been `dabbling in" for the past 15 years, nudged on by European companies, and their representatives who want to off-load wind machines? Mr Jacob has inherited this programme and, whilst I sympathise with his situation, the salient features of my article are clear.
Wind farms are an antiquated, crude, potentially dangerous and unsightly approach to our future energy needs and an unnecessary intrusion on Ireland's best asset - her countryside. At this point in time, the effort and money spent on wind-farm development, would be far better spent on a serious national programme of energy awareness, conservation and efficiency. The solar age is upon us and by the year 2010, a very unsightly rural Ireland blanketed by wind farms - and yet more pylons - would look ridiculously outdated. By that time, solar, in all its forms, will be "mainstream". It will be far more cost-effective, will do a far better job, be far more reliable, and safer, than wind power. Solar features on our homes and buildings will be benign, pleasing, silent and sustainable; very good for our towns, and countryside, great for all of us - great for our environment! The wind farm "movement" is being allowed to move too fast, with the public not being well enough informed, in advance, of what is intended.
Simply because some European countries have been experimenting with wind farms for the past 15 years, is no reason that we should do the same. We have a bad habit of following others, that bit too late, when those others, now more enlightened, have since learned new lessons of their own. In ten to 15 years time, the countries Mr Jacob wants to emulate now will not be promoting wind farms; and that's for sure.
Mr Jacob closed with some popular opinion figures. In closing, allow me do likewise. Since my article, I have received many calls from people across the country. About 90 per cent voiced full support for my views - and felt what I said was on the right track and overdue. Some nine per cent, their curiosity aroused, were anxious to know more. About one per cent challenged me. They, I believe, are involved in wind farm development.
With the government not keeping the general public properly informed on this subject, Mr Jacob's article, at least, will bring further attention to the matter and wind farm development will continue to be questioned, rather than assumed! - Yours, etc. James Kenny,
Wicklow.