I write to thank H. Nixon and Alfred Oliver for picking up the gauntlet I threw down in the letters page.
I would absolutely agree with H. Nixon that we have a unique and beautiful landscape around Hawick. However, I disagree with H. Nixon when he states wind farms are the most destructive and least efficient source of power of all. That is a myth, a sin
gle 1.8 megawatt wind turbine can produce enough electricity for 1,000 homes.
H. Nixon also stated that financial reward to the community from wind farms is a myth. Again I disagree. At September's Teviot and Liddesdale Area Committee meeting, Andy Maybury, from the Greener Hawick energy sub committee, and Dr Lindsay Neil, gave a presentation about wind farms, during which the latter, in his capacity as vice-chairman of Selkirk Community Council, stated that the financial benefits a wind farm would bring to Selkirk were huge. With the turbines mooted for Selkirk Common Good Land, Dr Neil said the town would have been happy making £50,000 per year.
A pre-feasibility study estimated £400,000 but the full study revealed that six turbines (bigger than ones envisaged at Pilmuir Rig) would be £1.5million, rising at the end of about 11 years to £5.5million – by which time the loan to build them would be paid off.
Dr Neil went on to say the financial gain would creep up to about £8million at the end of their 25-year lifespan.
To Mr Oliver, there are many myths surrounding wind power, but the fact is that an average UK onshore wind farm will pay back the energy used in its manufacture within six months. And throughout its working life, a wind turbine can produce 80 times the amount of energy needed to make it.
It is not for me to pass comment on the technicalities of the issue, but as a lay man I am excited about two things: there is a way for the town to generate its own electricity while also taking advantage of the money accrued that will come into Hawick.
