Grafter

Worth a read. http://www.swlg.org.uk/wind-farms.html

Food for thought. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2199284/Wind-farms-Are-wind-farms-saving-killing-A-provocative-investigation-claims-thousands-people-falling-sick-live-near-them.html

Wind power is an expensive folly! http://www.utilityproducts.com/news/2012/08/08/wind-power-we-pay-price-for-folly-of-green-politics.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/terence-blacker/terence-blacker-the-wind-farm-myths-are-finally-nailed-7966174.html

Good article from the Independent. The Independent, Tuesday 24 July, page 22 “The Way We Live†There are few trickier conversational no-go areas in civilised, metropolitan circles than the subject of onshore wind energy. Express the view that giant turbines, while playing a part in the energy mix for the future, should not be located where they affect human lives or industrialise much-loved landscape, and invariably a glazed, defensive look will settle on the face of the listener. To liberal opinion, opposing wind farm development is the moral equivalent of denying global warming or voting Ukip. What is most noticeable about these reactions is how often convenient fallacies which have been peddled for years by those with a vested interest in development are accepted as the truth. Even those normally sceptical about what they are told by big business or government have been content to swallow this propaganda with one easy gulp. Yet one by one the great truths deployed by lobbyists in favour of onshore wind farms are being revealed to be no such thing. For example, we have been told for some time by government, energy companies, chartered surveyors and estate agents that a house may be a few hundred yards away from a moving, noisy structure the height of the London Eye but there will be no discernible effect on its value. That idea has just been blown out of the water by the Valuation Office, which has lowered the council tax band of affected houses because their market value has plummeted. Then there is the downright weird argument that, for many people, giant turbines actually enhance the rural landscape. The bone-headed cliché, invariably deployed by lobbyists mounting this argument, is that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Evidence for the beauty of turbines always comes from those who happened to drive past some on a motorway, or saw them across a valley while on holiday, never from those who live near them. A marginally more subtle claim is that opposition to accelerating the development of onshore wind farms comes from "a vocal minority". The argument is only true in that it is a minority of the population who have first-hand experience of them. Who could be surprised that a survey of those who never see a turbine reveals that they are in favour of their use? There is no more attractive solution to the energy crisis than one which has no personal impact. Probably the most obvious of the fallacies concerns efficiency. No one argues that turbines produce power. The question is whether their relative inefficiency is worth the impact on the countryside, the quality of life of its residents, and the billions in subsidies and the planning process. In years to come, these and other officially endorsed distortions and fallacies will be exposed. One day, people will marvel that so much self-serving propaganda was accepted without question by quite so many people. Terence Blacker terblacker@aol.com

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/11/iceland-volcano-green-power Maybe the interconnector from Iceland could divert into Shetland and we could forget about the Viking Energy nonsense!

This is the full determination by Scottish Ministers . Basically says that all the negative environmental concerns are outweighed by the economic argument. Its all about the money. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00391076.pdf

Communities Against Turbines Scotland has a good website highlighting some of the issues surrounding wind farms. They are also having having a march and rally in Edinburgh on 25th April to coincide with Donald Trump's visit to the Scottish Parliament. All anti windfarm groups are invited to join them. Might be an interesting morning! http://www.tw312.org.uk/?p=2211

A very poor decision by the SNP administration but not surprising considering their obsession with wind power. I feel sorry for the poor people who will have to live next to these monstrosities. The 2km setback rule should have been applied. Most people in favour do not live near the areas affected. Will property owners be compensated for loss of property values or health issues that may arise?

We could also do with more honesty and openness from Viking Energy. http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/herald-view/honesty-needed-in-case-for-renewables.17143758

A reality check on wind power, it should not be a major player in any sensible energy strategy. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/8901282/The-Duke-of-Edinburgh-sees-clearly-over-wind-turbines.html

An interesting story from the Northern Times about windfarm noise and breaches of planning guidelines. The company involved is SSE which is worrying for us here in Shetland because of their involvement with VE. They have clearly paid little attention to genuine complaints from people living near to the windfarm. A similar situation could well arise here if VE gets the go ahead. http://www.northern-times.co.uk/News/Exasperated-planners-shut-wind-farm-down-6934757.htm

http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2011/04/14/qcs-opinion-on-charitable-trust-reform-meets-little-resistance-from-trustees No surprises in this report, another £20,000 spent needlessly. Significant that Cluness didn't attend the meeting. Change at the Charitable Trust is long overdue.

Did anyone else see a letter in the Shetland Times Readers Views from Jonathan Wills regarding problems with Mareel. It appeared briefly mid afternoon yesterday but quickly disappeared! Some arm twisting?

This is an interesting article about the not so green wind power industry. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1350811/In-China-true-cost-Britains-clean-green-wind-power-experiment-Pollution-disastrous-scale.html

http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm/6310/Britains-Wind-Farms-are-No-Spin-Zones-When-Cold-Hits Good article about the folly of putting too much reliance on wind power!

Grand night for wind turbines tonight! Again, hardly any wind anywhere in the country and bitterly cold. An energy strategy with wind energy as a major player is surely doomed to failure.

I wonder if is there is any connection between the very cold winter we are experiencing and the volcanic eruption in Iceland earlier this year. Historically, cold winters have followed some of the larger eruptions in the past.

Accident North of Sandwater. Possibly 3 cars involved. Take care.

I find Tesco's bread and rolls quite good and generally cheaper than anywhere else. A 10 second refresh in the microwave helps or make toast with the bread. Tesco also have the best range of other GF products. I too can recommend Dove's Farm flour, available in the Co-op, Tesco and Scoop ( Scoop is more expensive). Xanthan gum helps if you are baking home made GF stuff. Its quite expensive but you don't need much at a time. I can also recommend Frankies GF fish and chips if you are ever in Brae!

http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2010/11/19/windfarm-out-of-scale-and-questionable-environmentally-%e2%80%93-shetland-amenity-trust Good to see that the Shetland Amenity Trust see the Viking Energy windfarm for what it is.

Not much wind anywhere in Scotland today. What backup power would be available when wind power is absent? Time the Scottish Government had a rethink on their energy policy. Wind power is very over-rated as a major power source because of its intermittent nature. It cannot be relied on to produce power on demand. I would be worried indeed if we were reliant on an interconnector for Shetland's backup power. We must have a back up power station here, what about a gas fired one?

Gullible is in the Collins new English dictionary. It was printed in 1997 so is not that new!

No problems with thyroxine. I have been taking it for more than 10 years and have never had any supply problems. Underactive thyroid is very common in Shetland.

A good article about the reality of too much reliance on windpower as advocated by the Lib-Dems. http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1852188