ONE curious feature of the supporters of Navitus Bay is their enthusiasm for reversing the progress of civilization (‘Sails pitch for wind farms’, Letters, July 24).

The big problems with wind energy are excessive cost, unreliability, intermittency, variability and low output. The first four make it unaffordable and an ineffective power source whilst low output means it can never become competitive or satisfy demand.

Unsurprisingly, no-one would build a wind farm without massive subsidies. Nor would they transport goods in a clipper.

Does Mr Walsh want to return to the “bad old days” of widespread poverty, inadequate electricity supplies and a life expectancy of 30 years?

Surviving old windmills are not remotely economic but a valuable heritage reminder of how hard life was before the life enhancing advent of fossil fuels.

With regard to the so-called pollution from CO2, the evidence is that wind farms cause an increase.

This is due to the extra fuel used and the CO2 emitted from the backup gas power stations which are inefficiently fired up and down when there is no wind and more wind respectively.

For those worried about global CO2, the irony is that Navitus Bay would be moving the world towards catastrophe.

RALPH MARSHALL

Bath Road, Bournemouth