Bulletin Board

Click here to have your question added to discussion sessions

Tidal Power

Tidal flow is totally reliable and predictable. Wind and wave power are very variable. Even hydro power depends on rainfall. So there should be more emphasis on development of tidal energy. Sea lochs have had barriers built across them with no ecological disaster - e.g. the causeway at the head of Loch Duich. Slack water occurs at different - predictable - times along the coast so tidalpower is always available.

Ann MacLaren

Community Ownershhip

What means are in place to encourage small - medium scale community-owned wind and wave energy installations?

Andy Mackinnon

Income from a Wind Farm

What is the income approx, for one year from a 100MW windfarm? ie before any costs are taken out.

Can the local community get access to cheap or free electricity, given that the ROCs give the companies a substantial profit before any electricity is sold?

Angus Macdonald

Crofting and mitigation from wind turbine farms

Is there detail in legislative reform in place to allow use of multiple patches of land for a development like the wind farm planned for Lewis without requiring resumption from crofting?

If not, how can crofters ensure continued access to land at the end of life of projects?

In relation to this, how would implementation of voluntary departures from crofting law be viewed if for example, crofters wished to implement a system whereby all the crofters of an estate would benefit rather than the minority [potentially] losing land to physical infrastructure?

Fiona Cowan

Net effect of installing wind turbines on greenhouse gas emissions

I know that installing turbines on peatlands will disturb the peat and lead to emissions of methane and carbon dioxide. But using wind instead of burning fuels will result in a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of the turbine. Has anyone calculated the overall effect?

Dr Margaret Ferguson

Wind Turbine Noise

One of the issues that many locals are concerned about is the noise generated by the wind turbine blades. How are you going to reassure the local community that this is may not the case?.Once they are here and major capital investments have been made they will be here to stay regardless of noise levels. Why not invite a group from a cross section of the community to a simmilar set up and see them in operation.

Iain N. Morrison

Local Resource For Design and Construction of Power Supplies

Please confirm what resources are being put into development of a local capability for design and construction of sustainable energy supplies. I am aware of Cambrian Engineering.

Douglas Binns

Connection to the National Grid

A lot of the renewable energy developments planned for the Western Isles seem to be dependent on a new interconnector cable across the Minch. Who is going to pay for that and if it doesn’t happen will the huge renewable energy resources of the Western Isles be wasted along with the potential economic regeneration that such developments could bring?

A Macleod, Point.

Alternative Energy

Firstly, I agree with Brian Wilson's view stated on Lesley Riddoch's programme that we need a blend of alternative energy sources. My observation is that far too much emphasis is being put on wind farms as a short term solution. What happens when the turbines come to the end of their lifespan of 25 to 30 years? Will someone be responsible for replacing them or will they just be allowed to rust for generations to come as a blot on the landscape?

Secondly, where wind farms are created near a community would it be possible for ALL local residents to share any benefits and not just a landowner and a few crofters who happen to strike it lucky. Perhaps the technology would allow for cheaper electric for householders in the immediate area of the turbines rather than setting up cumbersome community funds. I am confident this would reduce the amount of objections against wind farm developments.

Finally, I am glad to see that this government is trying to address the serious problem of global warming. With this in mind I cannot understand why they are encouraging the national expansion of air travel which I have read to be a considerable waster of fossil fuels and contributor to global warming, much worse than the motor car. Could the three main political parties get together and accept that providing cheap travel for holidays abroad is not essential when the future of the planet is at stake? I accept this would take a lot of courage given the hedonistic nature of society but then successive governments have not hesitated to consistently hammer the motorist at every opportunity!

Brian John Griffiths

Web Design by IT Unit, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.