Windturbines

The Isle of Lewis is due a windfarm development. 190 windturbines, each standing 450 ft / 135 m tall, are due to be built over a 40 mile stretch of land, within a few miles of habitation. Although objections were raised by about 4500 people, these were swept aside by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the local council, as their priority was the economic benefits. A fierce debate has raged in Lewis for the past 2 years, sometimes bordering on the NIMBY. I have managed to construct an artist impression of one of these turbines (only the mast height), as they would look if constructed at the Arnish Fabrication Yard, which stands 1 mile west of here on the other side of the harbour. This will be published on the Lighthouse Blog tomorrow, and I hope it acts as an eye opener. I am not opposed to wind energy perse; I am not happy to have monsters that size hopping around. Why didn't they put more time into developing wave power? The same Arnish Yard is also making units for wavepower; for export to Portugal. Tidal energy is being harnessed at the Isle of Islay, further south. This is a very political entry, but I think the eggs are all in one basket. And somebody has said that nuclear energy is an acceptable alternative. Nope. We have not sorted out the waste problem, have we? Every month, radio-active particles are discovered on a beach near Dounreay, on the far north Scottish coast, close to a nuclear power station.

For reference: In the picture, the "mast" stands 480 ft tall, slightly taller than the projected 450 ft of the intended turbines. The building to its left is 80 ft tall and is 1 mile distant.