Wind-power

Probably like a lot of Evening Mail readers, I often watch or catch a glimpse of Granada reports. And tonight's featured the new massive wind farm project just off Walney.

 I say 'just', but apparently it's ten miles out to sea, but anyway, yes the huge wind farm’s stage one is now complete and ( I presume) soon to be operational and generating massive amounts of electricity. According to some figures, it will be able to generate enough electricity to power EVERY home in Cumbria, (with a few thousand to spare) daily. Now, correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this...(a) amazing. And (b) good news?

 You'd be forgiven for thinking not, according to some comments in the media. Wind farms have their lovers and haters and the issue always tends to bring up fierce debate, but I ask myself why? It's not really that big a deal and it's something which will largely benefit mankind, instead of endangering or exploiting it.

I know some people say they're a blot on the landscape etc. but really...let's get serious; enough electricity generated to power EVERY home in Cumbria. It's a modern miracle, and surely a testament to the many great man-hours put into research, development and installation. I can understand why some don't want them just off Walney, but let's remember it is way off-shore and hardly anyone in the whole of the UK will see them, let alone most locals. Only those who go looking for them will really see the entire wind farm, and even then, will it really 'wreck the view' or truly spoilt their day or destroy their life? I think not.

Even if we had one-hundredth of the entire planets waters took up by wind-farms, we would still have enough water to supply the planet, with plenty to spare, and only one-hundredth of the view 'ruined'. Add to that, the fact that quite a lot of people like them, or are indifferent to them, and the effect seems even less impactful. In short, I think they're a brilliant addition to our fine planet. Sure, they CAN wreck some views. But we seem to forget that it's largely us humans that have done that in the first place. And a wind-farm is a lot more beneficial to the planet than a Starbucks or Eiffel Tower.

 If this one-billion-pound project can generate enough electricity for the whole of Cumbria, then surely the future is looking a lot better already. Of course, they're not perfect, but they are a marvellous invention and I'd happily sprinkle the planet with them, if it meant securing a future for our offspring and saving the planet. We should all be a bit less selfish and a bit greener. And be proud of 'Walneys wind farm'. Sure, we can all have our opinions and arguments for and against, but at the end of the day, it should always be our planets and our peoples welfare first, and anything else second. When I saw it come up on tonights programme, I simply smiled for Cumbria. A great day.