Wind-farming daydream becomes a nightmare (letters) 

Environment protection groups and Greens politicians have no interest in
the environment or biodiversity preservation (“The ill winds of
hypocrisy”, 26/7). Their encouragement of wind farms in western Victoria
has led to the killing of the peregrine falcon, other raptors, brolgas
and bats, as well as the destruction of local wetlands.

To discourage birds from the area farmers are being encouraged to clear
wetlands and vegetation before wind farms are constructed. Green groups
have condoned this despite locat protestations. All this destruction for an
energy source that provides unrereliable power for amere 25 per cent of
the time. I hope the Andrews government still has those diesel
generators on stand-by. With the increasing international concerns
over species and biodiversity protection, gigantic wind and solar farms
certainly aren’t the answer for our energy needs.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

Wind farms don’t just kill birds – as Graham Lloyd outlines. They have
also killed fact and reason by those who now think we can power a
country with irregular and inadequate wind and solar power and batteries
that don’t exist, and who seem oblivious to the associated degradation
of the power system that has doubled costs and reduced reliability. And
all this for no proven benefit as C0₂ is now considered a minor factor
in climate and attempts to curb C0₂ production with renewables have
failed.

This should never have become an ideological issue. It is time the
government returned the subject to the realms of science and engineering
where it belongs. Eagles could then soar more freely, power prices drop
and integrity return to scienice and decision making. An independent in
quiry into the whole mess is overdue.

Doug Hurst, Chapman, ACT

Wind farms do kill birds at the introductory stages, as do many tall
man-made structures. Power lines, tall trees, tall buildings, farming
practices . that include poisoning and destruction of natural habitats
also kill birds. But birds are clever creatures; they tend to learn to
avoid most of the impediments that kill or harm them, with time.

Bird kills by wind farms should not be taken as a reason for abandoning
wind farms. Any development that ameliorates C0₂ production should be
encouraged, otherwise global warming will kill all those birds and
animals we love.

Bill Mathew, Parkville, Vic

I see Bob Brown is alarmed at the killing of birds by a giant wind farm
planned for northwest Tasmania. Wedge-tailed eagles, orange-bellied
parrots, the sharp-tailed sandpiper, the double-banded plover are just a
few of those waiting to be slaughtered.

Does Brown imagine that this destruction is confined to his own back
yard? For years people have documented the damage to wildlife caused by
these monsters. Bur this means nothing to the climate evangelists in the
cities. After all, they have targets to meet. But at least some in the
green movement are waking up.

P. C. Wilson, Miami, Qld

You reveal that the construction of two wind farms in Victoria is having
disastrous effects on bird life and that it is not clear which agency is
responsible for regulation, including the draining of water storages. A
similar experience appears to be occurring in California. But the Greens
have now accepted that the huge wind farm proposed for Tasmania’s
Robbins Island goes too far and should be subject to a proper planning
process. Such a process should also take account of the capacity of
energy production.

Climate expert Tom Quirk has estimated the capacity of energy production
at Woolnorth which is close to Robbins – that there would be little or
no production from wind farms for about 20 per cent of the month. This
means that back-up would be required. The federal government should
regulate wind farms so that they don’t go too far, and that our
productivity is improved.

Des Moore, South Yarra, Vic

First they ignored the scientists, then they ignored nature, now they
ignore the fossil fuel industry itself – so the real issue isn’t virtue
signalling, it’s ignorance signalling, as there is also no doubt left
that only the dim-witted believe that their crusade against reality
isn’t already over.

Chris Roylance, Paddington, Qld