Paul Tuns' blog, always a great source for British political news, links to an absolutely hilarious story about the British Tory leader, David Cameron and his efforts to promote his "green" credentials. Apparently Mr. Cameron's neighbours are none too happy about his plans to put a wind turbine on his roof to produce the electricity for his house:
Ms Want, 43, claims that the turbine, which will rise more than six feet from the chimney stack and will have a diameter of three-feet, will be an "eyesore" and a blight on the Edwardian-era area. "The generator will be in everyone's eyeline and will be out of sync with the character of the area," she said.
Mr Cameron and his wife, Samantha, are moving to the property from a house nearby because they want more room for their disabled son, Ivan, and their third child, Arthur, who was born in February.
In an application in Mrs Cameron's name, the family has asked permission from Kensington and Chelsea council to install the turbine and three solar panels on the roof. But from the beginning the plan has been dogged by criticism, with some accusing Mr Cameron of blighting the area with "architectural acne".
Ms Want added: "These turbines cost £2,000. It's irritating that it costs so much to show your green credentials. I've young twins and a husband with cancer. Do you think I've got time to be green?"
Two thoughts. One: this is really bad for Cameron. Any story such as this, ie. involving some kind of personal embarassment of a political figure, can be disastrous because the media loves it and it gets everyday people talking at the water cooler. But secondly, and more importantly, it highlights the huge practical problems associated with green energy production, specifically wind turbines. It seems everybody is in favour of windmills -- until they have to have one in their neighbourhood. They are ugly and noisy. Just ask the people who live in the vicinity of that monstrosity beside the Gardiner heading to Etobicoke in Toronto. They are great on paper, but practically it's a different story.
