Green light for biggest wind farm in the world

[woodlandboy]

hi all, quite a range of comments

I used to build wind turbines. Has anyone seen the 20 up in Glenmoriston near Loch Ness, and the ones near Lissett air field? yep that was me (before we got sold out by polish labour).

I chose to build these for a company after deciding to return some of my debt back to the earth. I used to work for an offshore drilling company too. My life style has changed through CHOICE. My choice that I should help to begin with the change of living. Some of the quotes within the thread have talked about how me must take technological steps BACK. We must begin to give up some of the Luxurys we have become Dependant upon. Even if it is just a little, it is something. Even if it is a little foresighted, just to ease the transition for when we HAVE, or our children HAVE to do it. If all of us were to do this now, enough of us, then the cycle might carry momentum and begin something bigger. it would ease the transition. maybe thats just a forlorn dream of mine...

Im not saying we may end up within the Dark ages, but like so many of you have said, we managed before. Traditional crafts, Blacksmiths, cobblers, tanners, woodsmen, carpenters, shipwrights, tradition farmers, to name a few are a dying breed. people would make things for themselves, clothes, games, instead of watching tv at night. they would repair what they own, not just dump it and buy another. Once this knowledge and the skills are gone, when the lights go out and google is surplus to good old hard backed knowledge, we WILL have to change.

Better we all start to acknowledge this, instead of arguing the toss between the different forms of energy. We are just using to much of the stuff, PERIOD. Nuclear is unsafe and will prove itself to be just that one day. Then what will we all say about the wildlife that is destroyed in the area of a nuclear disaster, and the effects it will have on us all for generations....

[Sneezewort]

Hi everyone

This is a really interesting thread - lots of points of view being expressed. I think it is so important for people to start talking about the future and how we are going to power our lives. I am not a fan of wind power (no pun intended ), especially seeing the damage it can do to raptors. However, maybe it can work in some places. I think it is a case of using a range of alternative forms of energy.

I agree with several people who have posted on this thread who make the point that we all need to reduce our consumption of energy and manufactured goods generally. As a society we need to adopt much more of a "don't throw it away, mend it" mentality. I must admit I am one who constantly strives to cut down on energy usage - because I try and keep my bills as low as possible. I am also fortunate that all of my travel can be undertaken on foot or by public transport.

I have recently begun reading the David MacKay book - "Sustainable Energy - without the hot air". Written by a Cambridge Professor of Physics, this book is aimed at the general reader. Mackay really gets across the basic issues we need to address - including the very basic fact that we can't just pretend nothing is going to change. If you haven't seen this book, I would recommend taking a look.

David MacKay FRS: Sustainable Energy - without the hot air: Contents

Interview in The Guardian with the author - April 2009: Leo Hickman meets the author of this year's must-read energy book | Environment | The Guardian

I for one am hoping the imminent Copenhagen summit will produce more than just hot air.

Sneezewort

[blacknest]

I do agree with the comments the last two posts made about getting into our thick heads the need to use less of the stuff...irrespective of how it's produced.