Petition to Number 10 against on-shore windfarms
Posted: Wednesday, 14 February 2007 |
Comments
I thought it seemed to be a rather a vague and poorly drafted sort of petition and an opportunity wasted. ( Personally I don't know too much about large scale solar power production but it might just require the landscape to be covered in different bits of kit, which is also likely to annoy.) If we are into poorly drafted things perhaps I can launch mine here on Island Blogging. "Sign up to the 3 kW challenge" It should be possible to limit home consumption of electricity to less than 3 kW at any time. Signatories to the scheme would pay a reduced rate for their 3 kW allowance or even get it free - but be charge a much higher penalty rate for going over the 3 kW or for a simple solution - blow a 3kW fuse and have their power cut off. Such a scheme would flatten out demand for power and electrical goods suppliers would be begged for low energy appliances. Was it Brian Wilson who suggested Scotland should be turn itself into a windfarm for England? Unlike Brian Wilsons idea, mine would anoy the power comanys by cutting demand, be less intrusive and possibly more effective and would allow everyone the oppertunity to partisipate rather than just dump the green burden onto places like Lewis.
pondhead from Mull
Pondhead, Have to agree with you about the wording, but at least it'll come to the PM's attention. I'm not expecting him to change his policy on the strength of a few hundred souls.
Arnish Lighthouse from Stornoway
Hi Pondhead... In all the recycling sruff there is hardly ever anything about using less. I suspect all the Granny flats would become separate buildings if your 3kW rule came in. I think it is a great idea, how much does IB use? I feel better already about no weekend updates now.
Nic from Coll
Better to sign this petition: "levy a tax on energy inefficient light bulbs so that their long term financial and environmental cost is visible in their retail price" which has been signed by 2,548 people.
Cllr Angus Nicolson from Stornoway
So Mr Nicolson you want to tax the poor again? Before energy inefficient light bulbs can be taxed, surely the energy efficient bulbs must come down in price, or it is a tax on the poor, the old, in society. Is that what you want ?
Tws from Castle Ward
It is too nice a day to write a long comment, the closing date for petition is now 20th Feb,it seems to change from time to time, going for a nice walk now.
Luinneach from Luing
Friends who live in Sardinia have a 3 kW limit due to the grid carrying a small supply. Needs must for them, so they make choices about the electrical kit they buy, the construction of their homes and how they manage their use of power or the fuse blows. Few people here need to think like that. Living on a 3 kW supply is do-able, including running a computer Nic, but why would anyone chose to give it consideration without encouragement? Obviously energy companies don't want people to use less power and similarly politicians around here seem to see renewables largely as engines of growth for rural areas. Would our representatives position on windfarms be different if there were no community bungs? Why would anyone think of building a windfarm on a peat bog if this was really about carbon? No, this seems to be about money regardless of the fact it may be counter productive. Unsurprisingly energy consumption continues to rise. Little if any encouragement is directed towards funding domestic efforts at energy reduction. It would be interesting to get some bright sparks to do some sums and cost out the benefits of having a few homes choosing to restricting their consumption to 3kW rather than think they are dealing with the problem by surcharging all homes to pay for renewables. Cllr Angus Nicolson - good point. The petitioning number 10 things probable function is to give the impression that someone is listening. A petitions in a bottle thrown into the sea may be as effective.
pondhead from Mull
I have been in Lewis since late 2004 and am observing life on this fascinating island from an outsider's perspective. I look out at the lighthouse every day - as it looks out over the island and the sea. 
RSS Feed