MAY I commend the article by Sam Kurtz (October 7) on the prospects for Pembrokeshire- based marine energy projects? Our county is blessed with a cornucopia of natural resources and, considering the possible rewards, it makes sense to research how we may sustainably exploit them all, by overcoming the difficulties of working not just offshore but deep underwater.

Alas, we’ve a way to go before tidal or wave devices can be built, sited, and gridconnected such that the power generated competes with fossil fuel technologies.

Meanwhile, to avoid catastrophic climate change with its ecosystem disruptions (and inevitable mass migrations), we need large-scale cost-effective renewable power generation NOW. The good news is, such a technology exists – onshore wind power.

This isn’t the conclusion of a bunch of “eco-extremists”, but the international consultancy Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Their 5th October report concludes, “…onshore wind is now fully cost-competitive with both gas-fired and coal-fired generation, once carbon costs are taken into account, in the UK and Germany. In the UK, onshore wind comes in on average at $85 per MWh in the second half of 2015, compared to $115 for combinedcycle gas and $115 for coalfired power”.

Yes, there is a price to pay: we must get used to wind turbines in the landscape. But if they are generating affordable clean electricity for us all to use, AND they are earning revenue for local businesses or community groups, are they such a bad thing?

Surely, better the profitable turbines you know, than economically toxic new nuclear?

Christopher Jessop

Independent Energy Consultant

Marloes