Portland bill going green but at what cost?

Recently Portland has seen three wind power turbines added to the scenery in the port, harbour, for me they are a great addition and do not seem an eyesore, while also doing a good job of supplying a renewable source for those that use the power.

We should all be seen to be doing the right thing for the environment and reversing any damage we collectively have created, the ozone layer is now thankfully closing due to aerosols being banned 20 or so years ago.

That itself proves we DO create damage, how could we not?

The industrial revolution was a huge contributor all that time ago and we are seeing that happen again with China having their own industrial boom.

All of us can and should do own bit for the environment, indeed reducing our carbon footprint is necessary really and it does mount up.

I think solar power itself should be on every single roof of every building in the UK, look at the sheer land-space they cover... close all the gaps between all the roofs in the UK and you have a huge mass of space that could and should be soaking up solar power to utilise, should have been implemented over the last ten years.

Closer to home though, I see the alarming news of a new "green plant" being placed in Portland harbour, not that a green plant is alarming itself but what type it is and what it leads to.

The "biofuel plant" that is being considered for Portland harbour which in my view stupid and probably creating a bigger carbon footprint than it saves, so clearly long term it's a stupid move.

The main reason for the stupidity is the fact it contributes to virgin rainforest being bulldozed and replaced with palm oil plantations and considering the short 20 year life span of these plantations it seems absurd.

Are we really to keep chipping away at the lung of the planet in the name of being "green" and isn't it a little hugely hypocritical?

Do we at Portland want to be the focus of bad press and possible protest action by those eco-warriors who will shout about how there is "nothing sustainable about it"?

Or do we at Portland want to see better sustainable green projects where we can also lead the way in taking the right action to create the right sustainable renewable energy?

Leading to great press and being seen to be showing what can be done and how.

With the natural advantages we have here around Portland we should be utilising them, what if the whole of Portland could be easily run on our natural energy produced...doable?

I think so, with wave, solar and wind all being available to us locally, all year too... I feel that we should be utilising them all.

There is good sun here in the south west UK in the summer months, with solar energy being tapped into, also being surrounded by sea we always have a steady breeze, while also having strong currents around Portland bill and nearly always we have waves, no reason all three cannot be used here.

All three types being used would mean at least there is always an input of energy, it will be rare none of them can produce energy at any given moment, true renewable energy.

There is need to "ruin" any view either, setting the plantation up a couple of miles offshore would mean no-one needs to actually see it. This is also a great south facing area for solar power so the mirrors that are used will not be bothersome with glare to people but no idea if solar and wind can be utilised offshore like wave energy.

It would also make a great control in the sense of what each output in energy each type creates and would go some way to informing us with real results what's best for the input/output ratio and in terms of cost/savings.

Having all three types in close approximate surroundings would produce some interesting results no doubt. 

With this sort on info being monetisable in several ways it would be a boost towards the initial cost of setting them up, I don't mean just sell the results, it could be consultation fees for other places where they are interested in implementing "green renewable" plants, experts and such who would be working here.

If only Portland was an independent place where we could create our agenda to benefit Portland itself and it's residents, having our own council as we once did. If only we be more like the isle of man in some ways.

Not having to fall into line with what Weymouth thinks, decides, implements.

I digress, we as an Island should have far more say on what happens here and we as a community should be able to decide what's best for the Island and its surroundings, it's future.

That includes and "green" ideas and notions which will effect more than just Portland people.
Whatever we end up with as a sustainable energy we should make certain it is not at the cost of communities or land elsewhere.

There is nothing so green as the rainforest and it should remain that way, if anything we should be growing it!.

I have no wish to see the earth's lungs being ruined for the sake of it, I would hope all of the Portland community would agree?

Yes, let's get green but let's do it the right way even if it cost more, monetary wise, short term because we owe it to be a long term success, for our children's children.

Do you agree?

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