JOHN Hunter (SA, July 7) is correct when he states wind power will not cover our energy needs.

Wind power is not cheap, contrary to popular thought. A study by the Royal Academy for Engineering in 2004 concluded the cost of a kilowatt hour of electric produced by wind turbine, including the cost of stand-by generation, was more than double that of gas, nuclear or coal fired. Wind turbines are unreliable and unpredictable due to the vagaries of the wind.

Denmark was very wind turbine minded but in 2002 stated that it would not build any more due to wind unreliability. It had had to import power from other countries at a very high cost. Soon after Ireland followed Denmark's example.

Environmentalists are enthusiastic for wind power but seem to forget that vast wind farms in beautiful stretches of Britain's countryside would not be very environmentally friendly at all.

So the EU 2001 directive for 20 per cent renewable energy sources backed up by the UK government's Renewable Obligation Order in 2002 are going to cost a lot of money.

So what is the answer? Don't ask me, I'm trying to pay my electric bill.

J E PLUMTREE Brook Meadow Wroughton Swindon