Wind Power Coming On

Viking Energy has the go-ahead to to put up approximately 103 wind turbines here in Shetland. That produces enough power for 175k people but there are only 22k living here in Shetland. The remaining power for 153k will be, in effect, pumped down to Scotland.

That means a profit of something like £30m per annum for Viking Energy Partnership. That is split up and Viking Energy Ltd own 50%.

That breaks down again. Shetland Charitable Trust have 90% of  of Viking Energy Ltd. That means that Shetland Charitable Trust are going to receive a very healthy income from the wind power that is produced, without polluting or destroying the Island.

Good, eh :))

Viking Energy wind farm

Jings, there is potentially a lot of money to be made by the creation of the Viking Energy wind farm. Ask yourself this; how often is Shetland short of wind to drive the turbines that will generate the power.

There is no fuel used to generate the electricity that we all live on here if we use wind power. We will not be polluting, using anything dirty or destroying anywhere as the electricity is generated.

There is a vast amount of money to be made here, from using the plainest, simplest generation of the electricity that we all use for various things. The area is possibly going to see many more methods to create business and therefore employment.

But will they stop the power cuts that we suffer all the time?

I doubt it, I very much doubt it!!!

Up Helly Aa

Anyone that has access to the BBC news channel, I believe they are showing segments of this years Up Helly Aa live tomorrow from 17.30 (31st January) onwards, until it finishes later tomorrow night.

Why has Shetland never gone for independence?

Shetland, along with Orkney, became part of Scotland in 1469, when they were pawned to the Scottish crown, believe it or not, as part of a dowry payment from the king of Norway and Denmark to James III of Scotland. The agreement made was that once the full dowry was paid the islands would be returned to Denmark, and until that time Norse laws would remain in place. The dowry never was repaid and Scotland, surprisingly, never made any fuss about it.

Over the next few centuries Denmark appealed to the crown but got nowhere and Norse law ended in 1611 but, and one thing in particular should be remembered, Denmark has never renounced its claim for the isles.

Following the Act of Union between Scotland and England in 1707, at a time when many islanders still spoke the native Norn as their first language, the vast majority of Shetlanders were forced into serfdom. The people were cruelly exploited by their new Scottish landlords until the end of the 19th century.

This somewhat tainted history explains not only the antipathy towards Scotland, which has continued into the 21st century, but also the persistent nostalgia of a romantic, Nordic past, which is continues to be apparent in the Viking festivals of Up Helly Aa, held around the isles each winter.

So, what do the Shetlandic people feel that they are? Do they feel that they are Scottish? I don't think so, not with the history of serfdom to Scotland. Do they feel part of the UK? Again, I don't think so, with all that oil in our water and all of its financial benefits being taken 'doon sooth.'

Shetland Island Council has started to develop another ambitious energy project. The world's largest, community-owned wind farm is set to be built here in Shetland. There will be approximately two hundred huge windmills generating electricity and supplying twenty-five per cent of the power required by Scotland. Scotland will have to pay for this, providing a major financial boost for the Isles. We can look after ourselves.

Remember, Scotland received Shetland as a pawn, nothing more and she has not yet been paid for, that does not make her part of Scotland.

And if Denmark should pay her debt, will we let her take over? That is up to the people but I think that after the lesson that Scotland taught us, I can read the answer written in the oil and in the wind.

Transvestite Tuesday - or Up Helly Aa

Thanks to stevedoughton

Or visit Up Helly Aa for much more information!!!