Letters / Pork barrel politics
Tavish Scott demonstrated the principle of dying democracies highlighted by J Sandison (SIC pickle explained; SN 16/9/12) – ie. that in the best “pork barrel” tradition, candidates realise that people vote for those who promise them the most, by calling for free electricity for Shetlanders who own electric cars (Unique chance to come off fossil fuels; SN 7/9/12).
A bit late in the day for pointing out that “landowners, the council and some crofters may benefit” from large renewable energy projects, but not “Joe Public”.
And don’t get too excited, because what Mr Scott said was: “There is a sizeable part of the population prepared to listen to an argument that would justify the installation of turbines across the islands (JT emphasis) if they could see the payback.”
So you’ll only get the free electricity if the entire islands are covered.
Given that potential purchasers of electric cars are comfortably outnumbered by the quixotic band who attended Mr Scott’s “keynote” speech (“Doh, etc. ,…”) at the recent Shetland Renewable Energy Forum, the free electricity isn’t likely to cost very much so, who knows, it might even happen.
If you really want Shetlanders’ votes Tavish, go for a cap on petrol and diesel fuel prices to maintain them at the same level as they are in Aberdeen.
And stop shilly-shallying about it not being official Lib Dem policy, use your influence as an ex-leader, get on and set about making it policy.
He continued in fine fettle: “I still think Shetland is the perfect place to develop a hydrogen economy.”
Really? With all that gas and oil passing through Sullom Voe Terminal, I’d have thought Shetland would be “the perfect place” place to develop a “petro-economy” based on Dr Wills’ idea of a micro refinery?
If we then subsequently achieved “crown dependency” status all the petrol and diesel produced could be tax free, too?
How much electricity is needed to convert water to hydrogen and how much is that electricity going to cost?
What do you get when you burn hydrogen with oxygen? Water vapour, and isn’t water vapour several times more powerful a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide?
So is it really about “low carbon” as opposed to a genuine effort to “tackle climate change” – surely this isn’t you coming out as a “climate change denier”?
And hasn’t the incinerator already been gutted once by fire without having stocks of hydrogen and petrol on hand?
And Tavish, despite the onset of “catastrophic global warming,” I can assure you summer is already well and truly past and much as we enjoyed your “green blarney”, don’t you think the silly story season has also passed?
John Tulloch
Lyndon
Arrochar
G83 7AG
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