VOTERS in Scotland appear to be turning away from wind farms, a new survey has shown, in a blow to the Scottish Government’s renewable ambitions.
A poll carried out for Friends of the Earth has revealed that just 18 per cent of people north of the Border put wind power as their first choice for future energy supply.
The YouGov survey showed that while 65 per cent believe wind should be part of the mix, this was down from 78 per cent seen in a similar survey by Scottish Renewables in 2010.
Instead the preferred choice in Scotland is for tidal and wave energy to become the main supplier with 32 per cent backing the option, even though it is still in its early development stage.
The latest survey was published as US billionaire Donald Trump arrived in Scotland to give evidence opposing wind turbines to a Holyrood committee on Wednesday.
Mr Trump has waded into the row after proposals were made to erect off shore wind turbines near his Aberdeenshire golf resort development.
SNP ministers want the equivalent of 100 per cent of Scotland’s electricity produced by renewable sources with more than half of the projected 60 gigawatts coming from offshore and onshore wind turbines.
They have prioritised the development of offshore turbines which they believe can produce 25GW, a move that has angered Mr Trump.
The survey was carried out by YouGov for Friends of the Earth between 15 and 17 April with 2,800 people polled across the UK, including 337 in Scotland.
The figures showed that in the UK as a whole there is still significant support for nuclear, with 26 per cent making it their first option for future power supply.
But the poll also showed that 85 per cent in the UK supported the idea of the government introducing legislation to make energy companies cut their use of foreign fossil fuels and increase wind, wave, solar, hydro and tidal sources of electricity.
There is “crony-capitalism” in the EU nations. Also, there is a “rush” to “green” EU electro-power because that way, the EU can ALSO gain the most POLITICAL power. Mr.Trump, however, MUST be listened to, because if his Scottish hotel can’t produce a profit, he’ll just sell-out and those jobs in the hotel complex will be lost,–the Pols to be blamed for NOT challenging the EU mandates. Once Trump leaves, just WHO is going to save the hotel when Trump was not allowed to? The Pols LOVE the EU-mandates that make them obsolete, because they then think they can avoid “blame” for approving the enslavement of Great Britain, by pointing to the EU mandates. Just as the EU seizes British Political-power from their politicians, the EU also seizes the “blame”. Wave-power is cheaper, in the long term, than wind-power, plus you avoid the roar of the windmills and the disturbance of the VIEW, that make windmills a bad choice. Wave-power is much kinder to the beauty of the hotel and its grounds and amenities. With any wind-system, TWO power systems have to be built,–one natural gas for producing 90% of the wind’s power on back-up when the wind slackens, and the original wind-engines themselves. Wave-power is nearly as eternal as the Sun & Moon, and doesn’t disturb the beauty or tranquility of a resort/hotel. What Trump knows is akin to what surfers know–It’s Wave-power, Dude, Wave-Power.
Good luck with that Scotspeople. Fortunately you’ll still have plenty Scotch to drown your sorrows after engineering reality literally drowns all your money.