Local Councillor Adam Symons Presents: 'Wind Turbines – is there a Greener Solution?'

This was the title of an interactive talk given by Councillor Adam Symons to the BSG (Bideford's own sustainability group!) early this month.

Some 30 odd members of the local community gathered in Bideford Town Hall on 10th January, in the hope of getting THE ANSWER - not to 'Life, the Universe and Everything' as the Hitchhiker's Guide has it, but at least to the vexed and much-debated question of whether a 300 to 400 strong wind turbine 'farm' off the coast of Bideford is the best and only answer to our present energy needs.

The audience was asked to itemise the advantages and disadvantages of wind turbines. Amongst the positives were low CO2 emissions, a decreasing cost (after initial outlay) and the unlimited nature of the resource. They saw the disadvantages as the initial cost, unreliability (the need for backup), the
necessity for dismantling after 25 years, the visual impact, the noise for those living close by and the disruption to wildlife.

Adam gave us an overview of present energy consumption across the world, country by country; he drew attention to the massive escalation in demand since the 1980s. He pointed out that all forms of energy, whether renewable or non-renewable, have environmental impact, they all emit CO2, even if only in their manufacture and they all cost money.

No perfect solution then; clearly, it's a matter of compromise, finding ways of generating energy which have the least impact on our habitat so that, hopefully, our species, we human beings, will survive the ravages we ourselves are inflicting on our environment.

What became very clear in the following discussion, at least, I think, to most of those present, is that the greatest need is for mankind to reduce its demand for energy. We in the West have become profligate in our use of what we have come to see as an infinite resource. In turn, we have provided an unfortunate
role model for developing countries.

What is needed is what Adam called a 'paradigm change' or, in more everyday language, a profound change in life style. Instead of treating the planet and all life upon it as an infinite resource, the call is to recognise that we're part of the whole, that, in order to thrive, we need to find ways of living in harmony
with our environment, taking from it only what can be replenished and renewed.

How to achieve such a change was the question we were left with. I think it's called 'food for thought'!

If you would like to be one of those seeking to find answers to that question here in Bideford, contact BSG's secretary Jane Williams, email: janeshiptonwilliams@lineone.net or on 01237 422577