Graham Hay-Le Buffoon

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 02 Oct 2004, 13:34

This letter appeared in today's Scotsman from a rather poorly informed reader named Graham Hay.

Well-placed turbines
There are many places in Scotland to site wind turbines, not as ideal as the Western Isles but which would not ruin any landscape.

Here, in France, there is a wind tower about 30 miles south of Paris on the A5 motorway on a supermarket car park in pretty flat uninteresting landscape. With, of course, "Carrefour" (the supermarket concerned) prominently displayed, nobody has ever complained.

The old power station in Portobello used to be considered rather as a landmark. Who would object to some wind turbines on top, not as efficient as the Western Isles but close to a centre of consumption, so no pylons, etc.

If wind-power is good, letÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s have lots of smallish wind towers on top of undistinguished buildings, instead of ruining the natural landscape.

GRAHAM HAY
Rue des Plantes
Montgeron, France

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 02 Oct 2004, 14:21

I don't think Mr. Hay is a buffoon at all!

I surely can't be alone in thinking that wind turbines are far more attractive visually than electricity pylons?

I'd rather live in the shadow of a wind turbine than huge, ugly pylons crackling and hissing any time it's damp or raining.
I really don't understand why people feel so strongly against their introduction.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 02 Oct 2004, 14:45

ecm wrote:I don't think Mr. Hay is a buffoon at all!

Really? Why not take a walk along the Prom, look up at the Power Station and imagine how wind turbines would look on top of it?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 02 Oct 2004, 14:52

ecm wrote:I surely can't be alone in thinking that wind turbines are far more attractive visually than electricity pylons?

ECM have you considered therapy? I can sort of understand an attraction to a delivery man but electricity transportation structures?

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 02 Oct 2004, 14:54

Porty wrote:
ecm wrote:I don't think Mr. Hay is a buffoon at all!
Really? Why not take a walk along the Prom, look up at the Power Station and imagine how wind turbines would look on top of it?

Oh!

Was your point that Mr. Hay thought the Power Station was still there?
That's not how I read it.

Sorry.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 02 Oct 2004, 14:58

Porty wrote:
ecm wrote:I surely can't be alone in thinking that wind turbines are far more attractive visually than electricity pylons?
ECM have you considered therapy? I can sort of understand an attraction to a delivery man but electricity transportation structures?

It was Epykat that commented on the delivery men.

Wind turbines are defintely less threatening to me from a female perspective than big, ugly, pointy, hissing pylons!

So there!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 02 Oct 2004, 15:00

Please don't apologise, there is no need.

"Who would object to some wind turbines on top"

To be fair I had to read it a couple of times to be sure but the above confirms it. Anyway, Im not against wind turbines there are a hell of a lot worse things. I do believe they are very noisy.

Is the buffoon right about there being no need for pylons? How does the electricity get from the turbine to the capacitor and then to my kettle?

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 02 Oct 2004, 15:05

Porty wrote: How does the electricity get from the turbine to the capacitor and then to my kettle?

Don't ask me! I'm a girl, I don't worry about such technicalities!

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 02 Oct 2004, 16:35

I think wind turbines look quite nice too. Sort of like skinny windmills - and if it's good enough for Holland........
However, I have heard that they're quite noisy when you live near them. Then again, do they give you cancer like wot the pylons <allegedly> do?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 02 Oct 2004, 16:38

The windfarm on Soutra is impressively spooky and striking!

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 02 Oct 2004, 19:00

The Belgian coastline has many of them, especially around Zeebrugge, and they do look very majestic against the horizon.

Beach Babe · Post by **Beach Babe** » 03 Oct 2004, 05:34

in an odd kind of way, I'm quite fond of the wind farm on Soutra

what is strange though is how Soutra seems to have a weather system all of it's very own that you enter half way up the hill and it disappears when you're half way down

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 03 Oct 2004, 09:09

Beach Babe wrote:what is strange though is how Soutra seems to have a weather system all of it's very own that you enter half way up the hill and it disappears when you're half way down

Harthill can be a bit like that too sometimes. Very weird!

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 04 Oct 2004, 10:35

ecm wrote:
Beach Babe wrote:what is strange though is how Soutra seems to have a weather system all of it's very own that you enter half way up the hill and it disappears when you're half way down
Harthill can be a bit like that too sometimes. Very weird!

So is the bottom of Bath Street! The weather down there is never the same as the weather on the High Street!

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 04 Oct 2004, 10:42

ecm wrote:I don't think Mr. Hay is a buffoon at all!

I surely can't be alone in thinking that wind turbines are far more attractive visually than electricity pylons?

No you aren't ecm. I have no problem with wind pylons either, (pause for comments!!

) And I also think they are visually easier in the landscape than pylons. I spend a lot of time on the Furness Peninsular, where there are a lot of them. As far as I know, the people who live near them have no problem with them, either. We have to have electricicty, so I'd rather have wind pylons than coal or nuclear power stations.

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 04 Oct 2004, 10:59

Hm - that was a bit of a confused post, wasn't it! Haven't had my coffee yet! I meant to say that I have no problem with the wind turbines (or windmills) - and that there are a lot of wind turbines in Furness etc., etc!

ras · Post by **ras** » 04 Oct 2004, 12:21

I agree that the wind turbines are preferable to pylons, but I'm not sure an urban setting is the right place.

We were stopped by the Police when driving along Salamander street to let a lorry out transporting one of the 'propellers/fins'. They were enormous. He told us they were 60m long and they had to use a lorry with remote control axles in order to manoevre it. That makes the diameter of the tubine 120m and then it is hoisted on a big pole.

At 120m that is the equivalent of a 40storey building.

Why don't we stick a couple in the Scottish Power site!

I like them, but I think out at sea or in the landscape would be my preference.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 05 Oct 2004, 20:06

A standard electricity pylon is 170ft high. The largest Wind Turbine is 410ft high and has a diameter of 295 ft. Portobello Power Station was demolished in the 80's.

Why are we comparing a Pylon, which carries electricity, to a Turbine which generates electricity? Surely we should be comparing like for like; Turbine to PowerStation.

BTW: if you are really keen you can buy a second hand wind turbine at

http://www.windbrokers.com

They have a massive range.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 05 Oct 2004, 21:03

Porty wrote:Why are we comparing a Pylon, which carries electricity, to a Turbine which generates electricity? Surely we should be comparing like for like; Turbine to PowerStation.

Well, in that case, I'd rather see wind turbines than power stations.

The electricity generated by the wind turbines would have to be transmitted underground by cables though so I wouldn't have to see pylons.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 05 Oct 2004, 21:06

I bet you didn't check out Windbrokers, oh ye of little faith.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 05 Oct 2004, 21:08

I might have had a quick peek.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 05 Oct 2004, 21:10

Its bloody amazing the things you can buy!

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 05 Oct 2004, 21:17

Porty wrote:Its *** amazing the things you can buy!

Oh yes!

air guitar

Thanks to Wangi if my link works!!

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 05 Oct 2004, 21:47

Porty wrote:BTW: if you are really keen you can buy a second hand wind turbine at http://www.windbrokers.com They have a massive range.

They may well have a massive range but I need 800KW and the largest they do is 750KW.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 05 Oct 2004, 22:03

You are out of luck. Ras just bought the 800kw one to power his VAT calculator.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 06 Oct 2004, 08:35

ecm wrote:The electricity generated by the wind turbines would have to be transmitted underground by cables though so I wouldn't have to see pylons.

Which, takes us back to the beginning of the thread, where I questioned; Firstly, Graham Hay's idea to put turbines on top of a building that no longer exists and Secondly, would turbines be a substitute for pylons or would pylons still be required to convey the electricity that heat's up my kettle? I think we would still need pylons in many circumstances.

I'm beginning to think that Hay is Mr Forbrains middle name.