Research shows turbines are unreliable

If my research into wind power provided me with the facts that turbines were a viable form of energy that reduced green house gas emissions, or would not raise my taxes or my energy bills, then I would be fighting to have them installed.

But the research that I have done points elsewhere. I'm a big fan of data, compiling, analyzing and extrapolating it. I did a lot of this in school for engineering technology and in my work in quality engineering.

Data from impartial sources is the best, it is not skewed to get the results you want.

Opinions are great, everyone has one, but impartial data is better, and it doesn't lie or provide doubts.

Here's data you might find interesting. A report issued by the Canadian Energy Research Institute in September 2006 demonstrates the cost associated with the different types of electricity production available in Ontario.

The cost is measured in cents per kilowatt hour. Nuclear costs six cents per hour, coal is 5.5 cents, gas runs at eight cents and wind costs 12 cents.

If that isn't enough, in a December 2007 booklet, the organization that regulates Ontario's power generation systems and infrastructure, called the Independent Electricity System Operator, stated that wind generation has a dependable contribution of 10 per cent of the listed installed capacity of the project.

For more information, visit www.theimo.com. Hard data beats opinion any day of the week.

If anyone wants copies of these publications, e-mail england_chris@hotmail.com.

Chris England,

Cookstown