Sir, - Kevin Sweeney's doom-laden notion that we are all going to be left sitting, and presumably shivering, in the dark when the gas runs out, is just the sort of medieval nonsense which makes the angst-prone shudder and seek succour in the arms of the wind turbine lobby (January 2nd). He and others ought to know the paradox that known world gas reserves have consistently risen in tandem with world gas consumption and now stand at their highest level ever.
Like it or lump it, we are an electricity-dependent society. Gas-fuelled electricity generation produces 40 per cent less CO2 per unit of output then coal-fired plant. If our Minister of Energy, Mr Joe Jacob TD, was serious about our Kyoto obligations, the ESB would be converting Moneypoint to gas.
If the wind turbine lobby wish to enhance their inherently intermittent energy contribution to the national grid, they should put their machinery out to sea rather than seeking to cover our irreplaceable upland wilderness landscapes with serried ranks of industrial plant. - Yours, etc.,
NICHOLAS PRINS,
Culleenamore,
Strandhill,
Co Sligo.