ThunderDragon Blog

If you want to have wind power provide the government’s 20% renewable energy, you’ll have to give up Wales to wind turbines.

An area the size of Wales would need to be covered in wind turbines to meet just a sixth of the nation’s daily energy needs, according to a new study that has cast doubt over the Government’s push for wind energy.

Professor David MacKay, a physicist at Cambridge University, said ministers would have to look at other forms of alternative energy, like tidal power, if they were to meet their ambitious renewable energy commitments.

Ministers have pledged to provide 20 per cent of the country’s energy from renewable sources by 2020 and have relied on wind energy to provide almost all of the capacity. (The Telegraph)

Whilst it’s arguable that we might be better off with wind turbines rather than Wales*, I don’t think the Welsh would like it very much.

This just puts yet another nail in the coffin of wind power - it is entirely useless at the moment.

I have a few pet hates. One of them is so-called “NIMBYism” - “Not in my back yard”. People who don’t mind an idea in theory - until it sets up camp near to them.

When it’s objecting to the building of something like wind farms - then at least they’ve got some point. If everyone took that attitude then they’d never be any built. But, at least they’re trying to stop something changing.

What annoys me even more if people who move somewhere - then complain. Church bells are likely to ring on a Sunday morning. Airports will have the sound of planes. And, of particular interest to me - if you move to within the vicinity of a motorsport circuit, you’ll hear the sound of engines.

And yet, to give the most unfortunate example, Castle Combe circuit had a ‘noise abatement’ order slapped on it in 2005, following complaints from villagers. It’s widely accepted in the motorsport community that all of these are ‘new’ residents to the area. Now, the circuit can’t hold any ‘national’ (ie. high profile) events, as they’re too loud. There’s also evidence that a number of residents still complaining about the noise have done so - when there’s been no racing on!

Castle Combe isn’t the only circuit effected, many circuits are getting unwanted attention from local councils. And motorsport certainly hasn’t got louder - with technological advancements - it’s quieter. The noisiest parts of the day tend to be as every engine is revved up at stationary - for the obligatory noise testing. I think that’s a definition of irony…

Anyway, that’s I’m a keen supporter of this petition on the No10 website: Live with it. OK, it’s only a petition, and the government can ignore if they chose. That said, with enough signatures, it requires some attention - see the road charging petition. It’s a small impact, and why I’ve signed to say:

“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to introduce a green paper proposing ways, that, where complaints have been instigated by resident(s) against a long standing activity (for example, church bells, sports facility, local airfield and similar), and where residence has been taken up since the start of that activity (providing there has been no significant increase in activity), a presumption should be made to protect the continuation of that activity and reject such complaint”

To me, it’s common sense. If you agree, you’ve until 17th September to sign up - and I hope you will.

There was a feature on my local news, North West Tonight, earlier this week. A woman from Oswaldtwistle had returned from her holidays to find some uninvited lodgers in her loft. Bats.

I was left slightly insulted that this classed as ‘news’. A point made worse due to the fact that only a few nights before I hadn’t been able to get to sleep - due to our resident bats having returning to roost during my holidays and chattering away all night.

For many, the thought of having bats living in proximity is a very scary thought. Blood sucking Dracula-esque they might not be; but people still think of them as dirty vermin, carrying rabies, and not a pleasant house guest. So, when the woman on NWT said she was looking forward to them returning next year (once they find a nice roost, they return annually - we’ve had ours for at least 3 years), the presenter looked a bit aghast. However, I’m with the other roost owner. They’re lovely little creatures.

The Bat Conservation trust tries to clear up a few myths - they’re not nibbling rodents, they don’t build nests, and they are very clean animals. A few times recently I’d wandered outside in the dusk, and spent a bit of time watching the bats flying around, swooping to eat the insects. They’re only tiny little things - and there were a couple of young learning to fly this year - it’s a beautiful sight.

I’d say there’s only one problem with bats - they are protected by law. Infact, the roost is protected even when they’re not it - meaning we have to be careful with any building work we wish to do. However, the authorities are keen to point out that the bat’s welfare doesn’t rank above that of humans - so we just need to careful with any planning. I think it’s a small price to pay to have such an impressive lodger.

With their reputation though, bats are rarely appreciated. And it’s the same with so many animals. Whilst on holiday, someone in our group saw a snake by the river. Following screaming, the snake slithered away. I think it was more likely to be a Western Whip snake (totally harmless) than an adder (and unfortunately it definitely wasn’t one of my relatives)- but even if it was an poisonous snake, it was never going to attack. Most (if not all) of these poisonous creates are more scared of us than we are of it - and will only attack if they’re threatened. I’m fairly sure no snake will look at a human being and think “Mmmm, dinner!”

You can’t help genuine fears, but there’s really no need to be scared of snakes. Just don’t tred on one. Still, they’ve also got a reputation as killers.

I don’t think there’s actually a point to this post for once. Still, I always like to conclude with something. So, don’t condemn wild creatures because you don’t know anything about them. Sometimes, like with my bats, you’ll actually enjoy their company.

~Asp

Climate change is one of those things that no-one* really understands. So much is written about it, on whether or not the ice caps are melting, whether the earth is heating up by a degree each year, whether their is a “scientific consensus” on it or not. And it all just goes right over my head. So I have decided something: I don’t care.

I don’t care if the earth is heating up by one degree or more, or less, or not at all per year.

I don’t care whether or not the ice caps are melting.

I don’t care if there is a scientific consensus on climate change.

I don’t care whether climate change is being caused solely, mainly, partly, or only a little bit by us.

I just don’t care.

And why? Because we should do the same thing regardless. We should all try to reduce our so-called “carbon footprint” anyway. We should walk or cycle rather than drive when possible; we should turn the TV off rather than leave it on stand-by [after all, how hard is it to stand up and push a button?!]; we should recycle everything that we can, from aluminium cans to plastic bottles to garden waste. And so on.

Whether or not climate change is happening and whether or not it is us who is causing it - to whatever extent. We should conserve our planet’s resources and reduce the amount to which we pollute our own environment. We should not go back to the Stone Age, but try and produce our electricity in more renewable and less polluting ways, where and when possible and feasible. It is just common sense.

These things should happen and be attempted by everyone, regardless of climate change. Because even if climate change is a myth or turns out to have nowhere near the effect often predicted, our own personal environment will be cleaner and we will all be better off.

* At least anyone who doesn’t claim to be a climate change scientist, anyway.