In a recently published IPSOS-MORI poll some interesting statistics emerged, not least Q23H ‘The independence of scientists is often put at risk by the interests of their funders’. 77% agreed with that question, so all is not quite lost when pondering the vagaries of Big Pharma and the Big Six.
Then again, Q12C asks an opinion on this statement: ‘Human activity does not have a significant effect on the climate’. 75% disagreed. That’s three-quarters of those polled who believe that we humans can, in some miraculous way, control the climate.
When asked about renewable energy (Q7J) 12% answered ‘very well informed’ and 49% ‘fairly well informed’. That leaves over a third content to pay ever increasing utility bills without question. Rather scary, particularly when we’re all supposed to be feeling the pinch more and more.
Bishop’s Hill noted ’76% of adults support offshore wind’ and ’58% think that offshore wind will have a positive effect on the UK economy’. Here’s a good link to the cost of off-shore wind farms.
This weekend the Sunday Post published a special investigation into the ‘true’ cost of the Scottish Government’s ‘turbine obsession’. The Sunday Post is well known for being a Tory supporting newspaper but over the years I have found its investigative journalism of a good quality. Currently there are 210 operational wind farms in Scotland with at least 2,400 turbines. £2.8billion has been paid to operators since May 2007, adding almost £69 to the average household’s cost of living, with £33 of that in electricity charges alone.
The next paragraph is more concerning:
The annual subsidy in Scotland stands at £434 million, with experts speculating that figure could top £1 billion by the end of the decade.
If these ‘experts’ are anywhere near the mark, our utility bills will rise to such an extent that only the really wealthy will be able to buy food for themselves.
The Scottish Government’s answer to critics is that wind farms have secured almost 12,000 jobs. I’ve yet to meet anyone who knows of anyone connected with the wind farm industry, have you? Considering these farms are built by foreign businesses who use their own labour forces, I am sceptical about the contribution wind farms bring to the Scottish economy.
When you read the Sunday Post’s article, one word, repeated three times by wind farm supporters, gives a clue to the endless building of these monstrosities. No, it’s not money (although that is also a priority) but targets.
But, as the anti-wind farm campaigner said “Our communities are under siege”. Indeed they are and the sieges will continue unless politicians are told firmly that wind farm targets must be reduced. I support Murdo Fraser’s accusation that ‘the Scottish Government has an obsession with turbines’.
Will the public protest to continue to meekly pay ever increasing utility bills?
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