Madam, Like Peter Douglas (August 11th), I too recently travelled to Denmark - and he is quite correct: there are wind turbines everywhere.
Having said that, I've also recently travelled to a number of cities in Asia where air pollution from fossil-fuel power plants is clearly visible in the air.
In this time of climate change I know which I prefer. - Yours, etc,
RICHARD BANNISTER,
Pembroke Square,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.
Madam, — Following a recent trip to Denmark and Sweden, I must agree with Peter Douglas on one point: Denmark has many wind turbines, although I can see a certain beauty in them.
The contrast with Sweden, however is striking: there I only saw one.
The reason is that Sweden depends on nuclear power for 50 per cent of its electricity, the rest being supplied by hydro power, with all but two of the main rivers having one or more hydro stations.
The Greens are fond of pointing to Scandinavian countries for inspiration on environmental matters, and perhaps they should go and look at how the Swedes manage nuclear power. Three state agencies deal with the location of uranium resources, the safety of the reactors and the storage of used fuel for recycling or disposal. Nobody I met had any problem with the availability of cheap electricity. - Yours, etc,
GEORGE REYNOLDS,
Consulting Geophysicist,
Annamoe,
Co Wicklow.