Comments on energy

Just a couple of points about energy arising from your May 23 issue. First, the guest editorial asserts that wind energy is "the most attractive solution to the world's energy challenges." I would like to bring to your attention a National Post report on conditions in Alberta, where the power utility, having invested heavily in windmills to the extent of 4% of its total requirements, has suddenly discovered that the wind does not blow all the time, and when it dies down the grid becomes unstable, with a loss of reliable power.

They are therefore having to build a huge power station close to the wind farms as a backup. Further comment seems unnecessary.

My second point concerns Minister Duncan's letter, which I would categorize as a lot of nonsense. The government has done nothing except to close down the Lakeview power station without providing an alternative, and pussyfoot around with the clappedout remains of our first attempts at nuclear energy. Now we find that he has imposed a limit on nuclear capacity. WHAT nuclear capacity?

France gets along very nicely with 85% of its power from nukes, so they obviously know how to do it. Why not get them to do it for us? It would be money better spent than the never-ending multi-million-dollar golden handshakes given to fired Hydro executives.

John C. Tysoe

Cheltenham