An action plan needs a clear aim and the Scottish Executive has proposed a target of 6GW of electrical energy to be obtained from all renewable resources by 2020.

Study of the Highland Council’s consultant’s report, and with practical experience of tidal barrage projects, led me to conclude that the major effort to achieve the aim must go into tidal stream/wave power, offshore wind, biomass plus recovery of fuel gases and liquids from sewage and land fill reclamation. Solar panels, geothermal and other small scale methods have a role particularly for households.

Some important results support Cllr Torrance’s views (issue of December 15).

In England and Wales wind farms are delivering less than 25 per cent of capacity while the best in Scotland is 32.9 per cent.

Using these figures the 6GW target would require 10,000 onshore turbines costing £1 million each.

The tidal barrage on the Severn Bore would have generated as much electrical power as Hunterston B and Torness nuclear power plants put together with a lot to spare. Unhappily, concerns of ecologists for the invertebrates in the mud of the inter-tidal zone helped to sway the decision-makers. Environmentalists now have a choice.

What is the price that the natural world will have to pay to maintain a civilisation whose consumption of energy is rising so fast? I must leave this ethical problem to others but I want to underline the old military principles of maintenance of the aim and concentration of effort when preparing a plan.

I was once told by a knowledgeable scientist that the Ross County ground could be under sea water before 2030. Now there’s an incentive for action!

James Cornwell, Culdee, Chanonry Crescent, Fortrose

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