I WAS saddened to read the two letters in the Times (February 9 edition) about the wind farm debate. I am afraid they both miss the point. We would all like to have our electricity generated from clean renewable resources that did not release carbon dioxide in to the atmosphere or ruin the countryside. Unfortunately the facts are these. 1. At the present state of our knowledge there is only one renewable method of producing consistent and significant amounts of electrical energy. That is Hydro Electric power. Unfortunately in order to do so we need very high mountains or massive fast flowing rivers. In Great Britain we have neither. 2. To pretend that armies of turbines (offshore or onshore) wave power or solar power can do this at present is very dangerous nonsense and simply does not stand up to objective examination even with the most draconian economy measures. 3. There is an overwhelming weight of scientific opinion that global warming is real and that something needs to be done to reduce carbon emissions now. Indeed many would argue it is already too late. 4. We simply have to face up to the fact that the only way we are capable of doing this at present is by nuclear power so for the sake of our children let?s get on with it and stop kidding ourselves. I do not pretend that this is not without risk or problems but I am certain there is at present no viable alternative. Perhaps we don?t want them in our back yard but as the Northern French Coast has several we already have! At present, it only takes one nuclear power station (Hinckley Point) to generate most of the needs of the South West. Of course we should continue to pour money into renewable research. And when we have finally cracked the nut of generating electricity reliably, consistently and in sufficient quantities for our needs we can shut down the nuclear power stations but we may, with a bit of luck, have saved the planet in the meantime. Richard Leonard Menfreya, Thorndon Cross, Okehampton
